Introduction

Since the emergence of Islamic revivalism in the Malay-Indonesian world in the 1970s, the region has witnessed various forms and intensities of Islamic politics and group interests. It is marked by the greater assertion of Islamic observances, practices and ideas, especially in the public sphere. In recent decades, the call for Islamic revivalism or Islamization has been noticeable in Malaysia and neighbouring Indonesia. The religious elite (ulama) in Brunei, Singapore, and Southern Thailand have also participated in such assertions to some extent.

In a nutshell, Islamization has evolved in two directions. The first involves a social process whereby Islamic values and practices have been gradually entrenched in Muslim societies, as a result of numerous factors at work. As a social process, it has shaped Muslim societies over an extended period, introducing new values and traditions, and affirming existing ones. On the other hand, the second direction is a conscious effort to Islamize the community, resulting in exclusivist orientations and anti-pluralist modes of thinking which are motivated by several factors. Both directions have resulted in greater compliance with the shariah. This would refer to adherence to general Islamic principles, or to specific observances which are stipulated by Muslim governing authorities.

Overall, the period of intense Islamization witnessed the persistent claim that “Islam is the panacea to all human predicaments”, that “Muslims need no other systems”, and that “all other systems are corrupt and unIslamic”. As these assertions became popular and were eventually normalized, those who critically scrutinized such claims were relegated to the background and dismissed as “liberal”. However, such assertions and trends warrant sociological and historical scrutiny, as they may have (un)intended consequences on a society characterized by religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism. These consequences may be cultural, religious or linguistic, and may affect inter-religious and inter-ethnic relations.

While many have focused on the rise of political Islam in the context of revivalist ideologies and orientations, few studies have scrutinized and assessed the impact of cultural and intellectual Islamism that has been articulated and growing within the Muslim community over the last five decades.