The relevance of the ‘ukhuwah’ concept in empowering interreligious relations and unity in Malaysia
List of Authors
  • Enizahura Abdul Aziz

Keyword
  • National Unity, Interreligious relations, Ukhuwah Islamiyyah, Ukhuwah Insaniyyah, Peaceful Coexistence

Abstract
  • Malaysia’s plural society is a melange of various races, religions, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. However, issue and challenges among people from these diverse backgrounds hamper efforts aimed at achieving social cohesiveness and national unity envisioned for the country. There exist problematic issues that surround relations between the different ethnic groups including the relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. This call for the need to identify a framework that would empower relations among the various cultural and religious groups in the country thus, allowing the achievement of the goals on national unity. In Islam, the relations among mankind can be empowered if there is proper appreciation of the nexus that connect human kind. This is where one’s acceptance of the bond or ukhuwah with fellow mankind on the basis of humanity would create peaceful coexistence and sustainable harmonious relations among diverse communities in societies. Ukhuwah is represented in two forms: ukhuwwah islamiyyah (the bond among fellow Muslims) and ukhuwah insaniyyah (the bond among mankind). As ukhuwah is not just confined to the bond or relationship among Muslims, it is important to further explore the concept of ukhuwah that could build a positive relationship among people of different culture and religions. This paper seeks to explain the relevance of the ukhuwah concept in particular the concept of ukhuwah Insaniyyah as an appropriate framework in interreligious relations that can promote the sense of solidarity among mankind and in turn enhance unity in the country. It also explores the concept of ukhuwah wataniyyah or the bond among fellow citizens of a nation as another relevant framework that would help to foster a positive understanding on the shared responsibility and roles of citizens which in turn create a sense of solidarity and cohesiveness among Malaysians.

Reference
  • 1. A.B Shamsul. (2011). Kesepaduan dalam Kepelbagaian: Perpaduan di Malaysia Sebagai Satu Work in Progress (Cohesion in Diversity: Unity in Malaysia as a Work in Progress). Bangi: UKM Publishers.

    2. Azhar, Sejarah Dakwah Nabi Muhammad pada Mayarakat Madinah: Analisis Model Dakwah Ukhuwah Basyariah dan Ukhuwah Wathaniyah (History of Prophet Muhammad’s Propagation: An Analysis on the Propogation Model of Ukhuwah Basyariah and Ukhuwah Wathaniyah), Jurnal Sejarah Peradaban Islam Vol. 1 No. 2 . (2017).

    3. Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2011). Population Distribution and Basic Demographic Characteristic Report 2010.

    4. Ikhwan Hadiyin, Konsep Pendidikan Ukhuwah: Analisa Ayat-Ayat Ukhuwah dalam Al-Quran (Educating The Ukhuwah Concept: Analysis of Verses on Ukhuwah in the Quran), Al Qalam, Vol. 33, No.2, 2016.

    5. IKIM. (2015). Laporan Isu dan Cabaran Hubungan Antara Penganut Agama di Malaysia. (Research Report on Issues and Challenges on Relations among Religious Adherents in Malaysia). Kuala Lumpur: IKIM

    6. Kamar Oniah Kamaruzaman. (2010). Religion and Pluralistic Co-Existence: The Muhibah Perspective. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Press.

    7. hadijah Mohd Hambali, Azarudin Awang and Mohamad Zaidi Abdul Rahman. Fiqh Ta’amul dalam Konteks Fiqh Kontemporari (Fiqh Ta’amul in the Context of Contemporary Fiqh). In Azizan Baharuddin, Enizahura Abdul Aziz and Mohd Amiruddin Kamarulzaidi. (2019). Islam dan Hubungan antara Penganut Agama (Islam and Interreligious Relations). IKIM: Kuala Lumpur.

    8. Mohd Farid Mohd Shahran. (2008). Dialog Antara Agama dan Peradaban: Pespektif Agama dan Tamadun (Interreligious and Civilizational Dialogue: Religious and Civilizational Perspective). Paper presented at the Expert Consultation on the Discipline of Interreligious and Civilizational Dialogue. 22 January 2008 at IKIM, Kuala Lumpur.

    9. Mohd Sani Badron. Latar Belakang dan Motif Mengenai Interaksi Antara Penganut Agama di Malaysia (Background and Motives of Interreligious Interactions in Malaysia). In Azizan Baharuddin, Enizahura Abdul Aziz and Mohd Amiruddin Kamarulzaidi. (2019). Islam dan Hubungan antara Penganut Agama (Islam and Interreligious Relations). IKIM: Kuala Lumpur.

    10. Shamrahayu Ab Aziz. Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan Masyarakat Majmuk (The Federal Constitution and Plural Society). In Azizan Baharuddin, Enizahura Abdul Aziz and Mohd Amiruddin Kamarulzaidi. (2019). Islam dan Hubungan antara Penganut Agama (Islam and Interreligious Relations). IKIM: Kuala Lumpur.

    11. Suraya Sintang, Azizan Baharuddin and Khadijah Mohd Hambali.(2012). Dialogue of Life and Its Significance in Inter-Religious Relation in Malaysia. International Journal of Islamic Thought .Vol. 2: (Dec).

    12. Zulkifli Hassan, Kelestarian antara Demokrasi dan Islam (Sustainability between Democracy and Islam), Jurnal Islam dan Masyarakat Kontemporari. Vol 13 . 2016 (Julai).