Malay Apostates In Malaysia: A Study On Reasons
Open accessAbstract
The Malaysian Constitution guarantees Freedom of Religion under article 11. Yet, it is tacitly understood that this does not apply to Malay Muslims. In fact, some Malay Muslims have openly declared their apostasy over the Internet. The Malay community does not take Malay apostasy lightly. They show animosity towards anyone who leaves Islam. This research aims to find out the reasons for apostasy and if one can leave Islam against the hadith which calls for the death penalty for apostates. Islam defines an apostate as one who says, does, or believes that Allah and Messenger are not what they claim to be. It looks at the position taken by the Malaysian courts in dealing with apostates. This study uses qualitative methodology and content analysis by evaluating text, social media and interviews with apostates. Many Malays have left Islam to embrace Christianity and Atheism. Many researchers in the past have said that the main cause of apostasy had been the lack of religious knowledge among the Malays. However, this study has found that many of the apostates are well grounded in Islamic studies and some of them have even studied Usuluddin and Figh until university level. Most of the apostates have undergone at least 10-12 years of religious studies in Malaysian school. The results of this study are intended to provide guidance and set examples to the public and the authorities in dealing with apostasy especially among young educated Malays.
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The integration of doctrinal content analysis and expert interviews enabled a comprehensive understanding of reformist perspectives on apostasy punishment.
“The integration of doctrinal content analysis and expert interviews enabled a comprehensive understanding of reformist perspectives on apostasy punishment (Morgan & Sulong, 2020)”
From APOSTASY PUNISHMENT IN ISLAMIC SCHOLARLY DISCOURSE: PERSPECTIVES AND IMPLICATIONS IN THE MALAYSIAN CONTEXT (2025) · cites this paper as Morgan & Sulong, 2020
The Abstract (p. 1) and Data Analysis section (p. 4) describe content analysis and interviews, including their value for deeper understanding. But the interviews were with apostates, not experts, and the paper does not say this combination produced a comprehensive understanding of reformist perspectives on apostasy punishment. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe Malaysian legal framework formally allows religious freedom, but the practical reality for Muslims seeking to change religion is often marked by legal ambiguities and significant social and administrative obstacles.
“Although the Malaysian legal framework formally allows for religious freedom, the practical reality for Muslims seeking to change their religion is often marked by legal ambiguities and significant social and administrative obstacles (Morgan & Sulong, 2020).”
From APOSTASY PUNISHMENT IN ISLAMIC SCHOLARLY DISCOURSE: PERSPECTIVES AND IMPLICATIONS IN THE MALAYSIAN CONTEXT (2025) · cites this paper as Morgan & Sulong, 2020
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Research works printed but not linked: 11
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- Nik Wajis, N. R., & Norazman, M. N. B. (2018 ). Revisiting law of apostasy in Islamic law. Conference: international syariah law discourse, at faculty of syariah and law. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, 6(2), MJSL - (Special Edition).
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Musa, R., Razali, K., Mohamad Fakhrulrozi, A. S., Ali, M. S., Zulkifli, M. F., & Mohammad Nasir, N. S. (2025) · Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law · doi:10.33102/mjsl.vol13no3.755
- Authors
- Morgan, S., & Sulong, J.
- ORCID
- Sulong, Jasni
- Venue
- European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Publisher
- European Publisher
- Published
- 2020-10-12
- Pages
- 649-658
- ISSN
- 2357-1330 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3093140482
- Cited by
- 2
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- The European Proceedings of Social & Behavioural Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Universiti Sains Malaysia Institutional Repository (Universiti Sains Malaysia) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Law › Religious Freedom and Discrimination
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Linguistic, Cultural, and Literary Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Keywords
- Malay Muslims, religious freedom, Malaysian Constitution, Malaysian courts, Christian conversion, atheism, religious knowledge, social stigma, educated youth
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