Restriction on religious freedom is a contemporary issue in Malaysia. Structural and moral emphasis of Islam's supremacy in Malaysia has provided legitimacy for the Malaysian government to prohibit the proselytizing of other religions and reversion/conversion in the Malay and Muslim society of the country. The State restriction on religious freedom contradicts values of universal human rights such as freedom of religion. Moreover, religious freedom is in harmony with the Islamic principles. From a religious and historical perspective, if Malaysia declares itself as a true embodiment of an Islamic State, then none can be the best prototype for comparison other than the Islamic State of Medinaâthe abode of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). What then were the features of this âIslamic Stateâ? How were fellow co-religionists and differing ethnic segments treated? How were cases of apostasy, religious differences and proselytizing by other faiths dealt with? These questions will seek to elucidate the substantive form of Medina's âIslamic Stateâ. The two canonical sources of Islamic Jurisprudence, Qur'an and Sunnah, and the âIslamic Stateâ of Medina will then be juxtaposed against Malaysia's âIslamic Stateâ; to illustrate the latter's paradoxes and superficiality.View full textDownload full textRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13602004.2011.556892
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