In general, the people of Thailand are Buddhist. According to the population census in 2000, the majority of citizens are Buddhist Thailand (94.6%), and Islam (4.6%), and the rest is Christian and Catholic. But this time the numbers of Muslims believed to exceed the figure of 10%, or about 7.4 million of the 67 million inhabitants of Thailand. This suggests that the growth of Muslims in this country continue to rise.
Overview of Islamic life.
Most of the Muslims in this country live in southern Thailand, which are located mainly in the provinces of Yala, Narattiwat, and Pattani. In the cultural and physical appearance, they are closer to the Malay community. If we look at the history that has passed, these areas was not part of Thailand. But since 1808, Thailand invaded the region and making it as its own territory. Of course, many conflicts that occur because Thailand is a Buddhist country that considers the king as a descendant of the gods. So many rituals of shirk which is contrary to Islam itself. Rebellion has ever happened, and until recently there were still contradictions that occur due to differences in these principles.Although the majority of Muslims in the southern part of Thailand, but not necessarily in other parts of Thailand there are no Muslim. Say Bangkok, capital of Thailand. In Bangkok, we can easily see the mosque. Although the majority of Muslims in Bangkok are migrants from the southern part of Thailand (physically can be recognized easily, because bloody wither), but also quite a lot of bloody Muslim native Thailand (usually white). This shows the propagation of Islam goes well in Bangkok.
When we went to mosques in Thailand, we will realize that a lot of similarities Muslim life in Thailand and Indonesia. The majority of Muslims in Thailand are Sunni Shafi'i. And in general, they are very similar to the existing Nahdliyin in our country. Easily we meet remembrance event congregation, nasyid, and various prayers. Every mosque also usually have the eminent clerics in situ.
Of youth (mostly students) plenty of diligent study in this noble salaf manhaj. They are quite diligent conduct scientific studies in the mosque, although sometimes at odds with the board of the mosque itself. Although they were dealing with a limited library that they can access (because not all speak Arabic), but they are very eager to uphold the Quran and Sunnah with the understanding of the righteous ones. They also reveal all their early Islam openly. They grew a beard, not isbal, even on campus ever we can sometimes see sisters who are veiled. And qadarullah, they are also the one who became one of the causes of the authors get the guidance for constancy in the methodology of this noble.
Support the Kingdom of Thailand against Islam.
Although Thailand is a Buddhist country, but the kingdom is quite supportive of Islamic life of the inhabitants. Responsibility matters concerning Islam in Thailand carried by a mufti who got the title of Shaykh al-Islam (Chularajmontree). Mufti is under the interior ministry and the ministry of education and responsible to the king. Mufti duty to set policy related to Muslim life, such as determining the beginning and end of the month hijriyah.Islam Mufti provincial council oversees the 26 people from each province. And the council oversees approximately 3494 mosques in Thailand [2]. The center of activity is located in Bangkok, namely the Islamic Center located in the Ramkhamhaeng area. Moreover, in every university there are usually Muslim Student Club. Usually these groups have a special place that can also be used to pray.
In general, the people of Thailand are also very tolerant of Muslims. They are quite concerned with the food that we can eat, and they are also very easy to give permission to perform prayers. But because Thailand is a Buddhist country, so the big day of the Muslims (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) Insist that they do not. This can sometimes be an obstacle for students or employees who want to implement Eid prayer congregation. But usually each institution to provide relief for "ditching" at these times.
Food.
Many people think that getting food in Thailand is a difficult case. But in reality, halal food is easily available anywhere. Say if we go to the campus cafeteria. Usually in each cafeteria complex there is a halal food stall. If we go to the market, there is usually a halal butchers slaughtered syar'i. If we want to eat kosher shop though, we simply find the nearest mosque. Usually there are settlements near the mosque Muslims and kosher food vendors. In shopping malls though usually we can find a kosher restaurant.But one of the things that make Muslims feel safe in Thailand will be the availability of kosher food is the halal certification body is very strong. By accessing www.halal.or.th course we already can find a list of products and kosher restaurants in Thailand. Even the packaging products in supermarkets too many have been certified kosher issued by the agency. So that Muslims in Thailand can freely choose where to eat and not.
One of the people who contributed in the field of halal certification is Winai Dahlan, an associate professor at Chulalongkorn University. He is the grandson of KHA Dahlan. He is currently the director of the Halal Science Center at the university. He was very eager to help the promotion of halal food to the rest of the world. It could even be said to be progress on halal food in Thailand is already a step ahead compared to Indonesia because they do vigorous promotion.
Being a Muslim in Thailand.
Exposure above shows the various descriptions of the lives of Muslims in Thailand. But in general, be a Muslim living in Thailand full of uphill battle.As we know that Thailand is a country that is free. The majority of the population likes the night life, promiscuity, and drinking liquor. Besides music boom can be encountered anywhere. The girl was dressed very minimal. For someone who is weak in faith, of course, the invasion of disobedience in the environment is a significant challenge.
In any confidence, we can see the practice of Shirk spread everywhere. Almost in every house there is a small temple where they put offerings. Even normally traders it was put offerings in their stores. Their exaltation in the kingdom had already exceeded the limit. The king is regarded as descendants of the gods so that they make a god. Monk also get very special treatment. They would give anything if it met the monk, just to get a blessing from them. Of course, the practice of shirk which is scattered throughout the earth Thailand continues contrary to the hearts of the Muslims.
Therefore, the Muslims in Thailand usually live in groups in order to mutually maintain. Near the mosque there is usually a Muslim village. In addition, there are also some areas in Bangkok that has percentage sizeable Muslim population. They tried to create a good environment in order to live outside covered disobedience earlier.
Sometimes the groups that live in these regions were gathered because of the similarity rate. There are areas in Bangkok named Kampung Jawa. In such areas, residents are descendants of Javanese who had lived there for generations. There is a mosque in the village of Java. There was also the Indonesian Mosque. There are quite a lot of citizens descended from many countries and form their own community. It was none other than their efforts to keep each other from very different cultural life with Islamic values. Usually they have forgotten the language of their respective countries. Winai Dahlan as mentioned earlier, also could not speak Indonesian at all.
Such is the life of Islam in the land of the white elephant. Perhaps we had no idea that we have brothers and sisters who continue to struggle to live while maintaining a sound belief in the pagan land. Hopefully this makes us all to always be grateful and also increasingly eager to study. Them with all the limitations of existing facilities, still trying to find the truth in the understanding of the Deen of Islam. May God always keep our brothers and sisters have.
Thank you for reading this article. Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno. sunarnobambang86@gmail.com
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https://plus.google.com/105319704331231770941.
name: Bambang Sunarno.
http://primadonablog.blogspot.com/2015/07/islam-lives-in-thailand.html
DatePublished: July 29, 2015 at 17:27
Tags : Islam lives in Thailand.
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