This study will be composed of two presentations; the first one is a personal narratives difference between two prominent personalities in the league of ulamas about perceptions on Islamic theology and contemporary plight of Muslims in the Philippines. One is a full-fledged Muslim in the person of Uztadz Muhammad H. Cana, while the other one is a balik-Islam in the person of Hajji Abdul Salam.
The framework used is Sakili’s model of Muslim space, each of their views and insights will be examined by determining factors extracted from his book. The second one is a material presentation of getting a sample of 10 respondents from the group of Muslims and Balik-Islam. They will be given a questionnaire and answer it with yes or no responses. Thus, this will be attest to the relationship that the researcher would like to posit in his hypothesis.
Table of Contents
Anecdotal Introduction
Abstract
A Brief Balik-Islam Introductory Situation in the Philippines
A Concise Look in the History of Islam in the Philippines
What are you investigating? Why?
What have others done within the subject area?
Discussions to Answer the Posited Research Problem
Which part of that body of knowledge your paper will be added to?
Research Objectives and Themes
This study explores the relationship between "Balik-Islam" (Muslim reverts) and full-fledged Muslims in the Philippines. It examines whether shared Islamic teachings act as a unifying force, minimizing conflicts and fostering an amiable relationship between these two groups, despite the social challenges converts often face.
- Theological perspectives on Islamic identity and practice.
- Social interactions and camaraderie between converts and born-Muslims.
- Sociological impacts of religious conversion within a predominantly Catholic society.
- Evaluation of media portrayals versus the lived experiences of these communities.
Excerpt from the Book
A Concise Look in the History of Islam in the Philippines
There are numerous theories about how Islam came to Southeast Asia and the Philippines. One theory is that Muslim traders established trading centers in Southeast Asia as commercial stopovers to China and intermarried daughters of village chiefs. There was a need for Muslim education in these trade centers, which brought about Muslim teachers and missionaries coming from Arabic regions. Another theory is conversion leaders of communities came to local superiors and forced the population to become Muslim. Another theory is that local people were automatically attracted to Islam, belonging to a larger community as a group of equal people in Muslim brotherhood, and the religion had respect for local culture and religion.
Islam spread in the Philippines from the 13th century through the 1500's. The people combined Islam with their own practices and beliefs. Muslims founded communities (called sultanates) with the chief of each community (sultans). Muslim sultans in the Southern Philippines went with a fleet to northern islands for slaves to bring back to Sulu province. Once the slaves were integrated into the community, they were encouraged to marry Muslim Moros of the south so children could acquire freedom.
Summary of Chapters
Anecdotal Introduction: The author details the personal journey and motivations behind selecting this specific anthropological focus on Muslim identity in the Philippines.
Abstract: This section outlines the dual-methodological approach: qualitative personal narratives from religious scholars and a quantitative survey of community members.
A Brief Balik-Islam Introductory Situation in the Philippines: Provides an overview of the Balik-Islam movement, its growth among Overseas Contract Workers, and the emergence of Islamic centers in Manila.
A Concise Look in the History of Islam in the Philippines: Summarizes historical theories of Islam's arrival in the archipelago and the subsequent impact of Spanish and American colonization.
What are you investigating? Why?: Defines the study's scope, the hypothesis regarding Islam as a binding force, and the specific research questions involving religious leaders and community respondents.
What have others done within the subject area?: Reviews existing literature, noting the gap in research concerning the direct relationship between established Muslims and recent converts.
Discussions to Answer the Posited Research Problem: Analyzes survey data and expert insights through the framework of Sakili's "Muslim concept of space," interpreting Islamic axioms in the Philippine context.
Which part of that body of knowledge your paper will be added to?: Concludes with the author's hope that these primary findings will provide foundational insights for future anthropological research on Filipino Muslim communities.
Keywords
Balik-Islam, Muslim Reverts, Philippines, Islamic Theology, Religious Conversion, Anthropology, Ulamas, Muslim Space, Dar-al-Islam, Identity, Religious Practice, Sociology, Tawhid, Conversion Narratives, Muslim-Christian Relations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the relationship between "Balik-Islam" (recent converts to Islam) and full-fledged Muslims in the Philippines, specifically looking at how Islamic belief systems influence their social interaction.
What are the core thematic areas covered in the study?
The study covers the history of Islam in the Philippines, the experiences of conversion to Islam, religious theology, and the sociological dynamics between different groups of Muslims.
What is the central research question?
The author explores whether Islam acts as a binding force that keeps these two groups intact, minimizing interpersonal conflict.
Which scientific methods were used by the researcher?
The researcher employed a mixed-method approach, using primary qualitative data (interviews with religious scholars) and quantitative data (a survey of 20 respondents).
What does the main body of the paper discuss?
The main body examines the perspectives of prominent religious personalities on Islamic theology, interprets those views using Sakili’s "Muslim concept of space," and presents findings from a community survey.
What are the essential keywords characterizing this work?
Key terms include Balik-Islam, religious conversion, Philippine Muslim society, identity, Islamic theology, and anthropological context.
How does the author define the "Balik-Islam" movement in the Philippine context?
The author defines them as individuals, often former Overseas Contract Workers, who converted to Islam from a traditionally Catholic background, noting there are approximately 200,000 such members.
What were the results of the survey conducted by the researcher?
The survey indicated that both Muslims and Balik-Islam hold positive views of one another, share a common belief system, and reject the media portrayals that associate them with terrorism.
What challenges do Balik-Islam individuals typically face according to this study?
They often face sociological challenges, including rejection by their families and the wider mainstream society, as well as the negative public perception of Muslims in the Philippines.
- Quote paper
- Researcher Nassef Adiong (Author), 2007, Relationship between Balik-Islam (Muslim Reverts) and full-fledged Muslims under the Auspices of Islamic Teachings in Philippine Setting, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/121031
