RELIGIONS IN
MALAYSIA
WRITTEN BY:
JOSHAH ARIEL A/L
JAGANATHAN
ID: 54101121119
MDD - 3A
Table of Contents 3-4
5-6
1. Introduction 7-9
2. Background of Islam 10 – 11
3. History of Islam 12-13
4. Islam’s house of worship 14-15
5. Islamic celebrations 16-20
6. Background of Christianity 21-22
7. History of Christianity 23-25
8. Christianity’s house of worship 26-28
9. Christianity’s celebrations 29-30
10. Background of Buddhism 31
11. History of Buddhism 32-35
12. Buddha’s house of worship 36-38
13. Buddhism's celebrations 39-40
14. Background of Hinduism 41
15. History of Hinduism 42-43
16. Hinduism’s house of worship
17. Hinduism’s celebrations
2
Introduction
What is religion? Religion is usually defined as a
social-cultural system of designated behaviors and
practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts,
sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or
organizations, that generally relates humanity to
supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual
elements; however, there is no scholarly consensus
over what precisely constitutes a religion. Different
religions may or may not contain various elements
ranging from the divine, sacred things, faith, a
supernatural being or supernatural beings or
"some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will
provide norms and power for the rest of life".
Nowadays, there are different types of religions as
well as beliefs that have their own theology and
doctrine. Currently, according to Wikipedia,
3
Introduction
Christianity has about 2.382 Billion adherents,
making up to 31.11% . Islam has 1.907 billion
followers making up to 24.9%. Next up, atheism
has 1.193 billion, followed by Hinduism which is
1.161 billion and Buddhism by 506 million. Each
making up to 15.58%, 15.16%, and 5.06%
respectfully. Other religions such as Judaism,
Sikhism, Jainism, Cao Dai and many more make up
the remaining percentage of religions in the world.
To each having their own belief and practices, along
with their own doctrine that their disciples follow.
4
Background of Islam
Lets start with the religion of Islam. According to
the traditional account. The Islamic prophet
Muhammad began receiving what Muslims
consider to be divine revelations in 610 CE, calling
for submission to the one God, the expectation of
the imminent Last Judgement, and caring for the
poor and needy. Muhammad's message won over a
handful of followers (the ṣaḥāba) and was met with
increasing opposition from Meccan notables. In
622 CE, a few years after losing protection with the
death of his influential uncle ʾAbū Ṭālib ibn ʿAbd al-
Muṭṭalib, Muhammad migrated to the city of
Yathrib (now known as Medina). The word “Islam”
means “submission to the will of God.”
Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
5
Background of Islam
Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-
knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah.
Followers of Islam aim to live a life of complete
submission to Allah. They believe that nothing can
happen without Allah’s permission, but humans
have free will. Mosques are places where Muslims
worship. Some important Islamic places include the
Kaaba shrine in Mecca, the Al-Aqsa mosque in
Jerusalem, and Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.
The Quran (or Koran) is the major holy text of
Islam. The Hadith is another important book.
6
History of Islam
Muhammad
The prophet Muhammad, sometimes spelled
Mohammed or Mohammad, was born in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia, in 570 A.D. Muslims believe he was
the final prophet sent by God to reveal their faith
to mankind. According to Islamic texts and
tradition, an angel named Gabriel visited
Muhammad in 610 A.D. while he was meditating in
a cave. The angel ordered Muhammad to recite the
words of Allah. Muslims believe that Muhammad
continued to receive revelations from Allah
throughout the rest of his life. Starting in about
613, Muhammad began preaching throughout
Mecca the messages he received. He taught that
there was no other God but Allah and that Muslims
should devote their lives to this God.
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History of Islam
Hijra
In 622, Muhammad traveled from Mecca to
Medina with his supporters. This journey became
known as the Hijra (also spelled Hegira or Hijrah),
and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Some seven years later, Muhammad and his many
followers returned to Mecca and conquered the
region. He continued to preach until his death in
632.
Abu Bakr
After Muhammad’s passing, Islam began to spread
rapidly. A series of leaders, known as caliphs,
became successors to Muhammad. This system of
leadership, which was run by a Muslim ruler,
became known as a caliphate. The first caliph was
Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law and close
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History of Islam
friend. Abu Bakr died about two years after he was
elected and was succeeded in 634 by Caliph Umar,
another father-in-law of Muhammad.
Sunnis and Shiites
When Muhammad died, there was debate over
who should replace him as leader. This led to a
schism in Islam, and two major sects emerged: the
Sunnis and the Shiites. Sunnis make up nearly 90
percent of Muslims worldwide. They accept that
the first four caliphs were the true successors to
Muhammad. Shiite Muslims believe that only the
caliph Ali and his descendants are the real
successors to Muhammad. They deny the
legitimacy of the first three caliphs. Today, Shiite
Muslims have a considerable presence in Iran, Iraq
and Syria.
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Islamic Place of Worship
Islam’s place of worship is called a mosque. The
English word "mosque" denotes a Muslim house of
worship. The word evolved from the Arabic term
masjid, which means "place of prostration." During
prayer, Muslims briefly kneel and touch their
foreheads to the ground as a sign of submission to
the will of God.
The Origin of the Mosque
The Prophet Muhammad's original house in
Medina (in present-day Saudi Arabia) is thought to
be the first mosque and probably served as a
model for early mosque architecture. It was a mud-
brick structure with living quarters on one side of
an enclosed rectangular courtyard. Since
Muhammad's followers would gather at his home
for prayer, the side of the courtyard facing the well,
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Islamic Place of Worship
qibla, or the direction of prayer, included a porch
covered by palm branches, which offered shelter
from the hot desert sun. Most early mosques, as
well as the majority of later mosques in Arab lands,
follow this general layout.
The Role of the Mosque
Mosques reflect the size and needs of individual
Muslim communities, as their members all worship
together on Fridays. Inscriptions from the Qur'an
adorn the interiors and exteriors of mosques,
establishing a strong link between scripture and the
place of prayer. Mosque decoration almost never
includes human or animal forms, which are seen as
potentially idolatrous. Instead, geometric, floral,
vegetal, and calligraphic designs adorn mosques,
symbolically recalling the promise of Paradise.
11
Islamic celebration
There are two official holidays in Islam, Eid al-Fitr
and Eid al-Adha, which are celebrated by Muslims
worldwide. Both holidays occur on dates in the
lunar Islamic calendar, which is different from the
solar-based Gregorian calendar, so they are
observed on different Gregorian dates every year.
Additionally, Friday is considered the holiest day of
the week, and in Islamic tradition, is considered a
celebration in itself. Friday Prayers are
congregational prayers held in mosques, and
Muslims are encouraged to wear clean and refined
clothes, perfume, and bathe. It's customary to eat
special meals with family on this day. Eid al-Fitr is
celebrated at the end of Ramadan (a month of
fasting during daylight hours), and Muslims may
perform acts of zakat (charity) on the occasion,
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Islamic celebration
which begins after the new moon is sighted for the
beginning of the month of Shawwal. Celebration
begins with prayers on the morning of 1 Shawwal,
followed by breakfast, and often celebratory meals
throughout the day. Eid al-Adha is celebrated on
the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, when the Hajj
pilgrimage takes place and lasts for four days.
Muslims may perform an act of zakat and
friendship by slaughtering a sheep and distributing
the meat to family, friends, and to the poor.
Muslims are also encouraged to be especially
friendly and reach out to one another during this
period.
13
Background of Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion
based on the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most
widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion
followers representing one-third of the global
population. Its adherents, known as Christians, are
estimated to make up a majority of the population
in 157 countries and territories,[4] and believe that
Jesus is the Son of God, whose coming as the
messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible
(called the Old Testament in Christianity) and
chronicled in the New Testament. Christianity
began as a Second Temple Judaic sect in the 1st
century Hellenistic Judaism in the Roman province
of Judea. Jesus' apostles and their followers spread
around the Levant, Europe, Anatolia, Mesopotamia,
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Background of Christianity
the South Caucasus, Ancient Carthage, Egypt, and
Ethiopia, despite significant initial persecution. It
soon attracted gentile God-fearers, which led to a
departure from Jewish customs, and, after the Fall
of Jerusalem, AD 70 which ended the Temple-
based Judaism, Christianity slowly separated from
Judaism.
15
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian
religion, Christian countries, and the Christians with
their various denominations, from the 1st century
to the present. Christianity originated with the
ministry of Jesus, a Jewish teacher and healer who
proclaimed the imminent Kingdom of God and was
crucified AD 30–33 in Jerusalem in the Roman
province of Judea. His followers believe that,
according to the Gospels, he was the Son of God
and that he died for the forgiveness of sins and was
raised from the dead and exalted by God, and will
return soon at the inception of God's kingdom.
Early Christians debated whether they should only
preach to Jews, or if non-Jews could become
Christians too.
16
History of Christianity
Eventually, Christianity gained followers not only
from Jewish communities, but from throughout the
Roman world.
Christianity and Rome
In the decades after Jesus's death, the Apostle Paul
wrote many letters that are now part of the New
Testament of the Christian Bible. Paul was a Roman
citizen and sent these letters to small communities
of Christians living throughout the Roman Empire.
The letters show us that Paul and his fellow
Christians were still figuring out exactly what being
a Christian meant. Issues related to the exact
relationship between Judaism and Christianity, and
between Christianity and the Roman government,
were prominent topics of discussion
17
History of Christianity
Judaism had received the status of a legal religion
in the Roman Empire with formal protections.
Although Christianity developed out of Jewish
traditions, it had no such legal protections.
Christians were occasionally persecuted—formally
punished—for their beliefs during the first two
centuries CE. But the Roman state’s official position
was generally to ignore Christians unless they
clearly challenged imperial authority.
Rome becomes Christian
In 313 CE, the emperor Constantine issued the
Edict of Milan, which granted Christianity—as well
as most other religions—legal status. While this
was an important development in the history of
Christianity, it was not a total replacement of
traditional Roman beliefs with Christianity.
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History of Christianity
In 325, Constantine called the Council of Nicaea,
which was a gathering of Christian leaders to
determine the formal—or orthodox—beliefs of
Christianity. The result of this council was the
Nicene Creed, which laid out the agreed upon
beliefs of the council.
In 380 CE, the emperor Theodosius issued the Edict
of Thessalonica, which made Christianity,
specifically Nicene Christianity, the official religion
of the Roman Empire. Most other Christian sects
were deemed heretical, lost their legal status, and
had their properties confiscated by the Roman
state. The Roman Empire did not become
Christianized overnight. Roman religious beliefs
changed slowly over time. At the time the Western
Roman Empire fell in 476 CE, Christianity was still
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History of Christianity
spreading. It is also important to remember that
Christianity itself did not appear suddenly or fully-
formed. Christianity grew out of Jewish traditions
and was shaped by Roman cultural and political
structures for several centuries.
20
Christianity's house of worship
The word church derives from the Greek ekklesia,
meaning the called-out ones. Its original meaning is
to refer to the body of believers, or the body of
Christ. The word church is used to refer to a
Christian place of worship by some Christian
denominations, including Anglicans and Catholics.
Other Christian denominations, including the
Religious Society of Friends, Mennonites,
Christadelphians, and some unitarians, object to
the use of the word "church" to refer to a building,
as they argue that this word should be reserved for
the body of believers who worship there. Another
place that Christians worship today is within
houses. This can either be because the church
meeting itself gathers in a house. Or, it can include
additional meetings outside of the established
21
Christianity’s house of worship
church. For example, many established churches
offer small group gatherings. These gatherings are
hosted by members of the church within their
homes. Christians worship in homes because it
models the Early Church. The Early Church met
daily to encourage one another and to spur one
another on for the work of Christ. Furthermore,
they ate meals together and went about everyday
life together. This is partly why established
churches today follow a similar model.
22
Christianity’s celebrations
Christmas Day - 25 December (Western Christians)
The 25th of December is the time when Western
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus who
Christians believe to be both the Messiah (or in
Greek: the Christ) and son of God (that is, divine).
Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth on
the 7th January.
Jesus' birth or 'nativity' is described in the Bible, in
the New Testament Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
There is disagreement among Christians about the
status of the accounts, some regarding them as
describing theological truths but not historical
ones. The Gospels do not mention the date of
Jesus' birth which was set by Pope Julius in the 4th
century CE in order to Christianise the Pagan
celebrations that took place at that time of year.
23
Christianity’s celebrations
The story of the nativity was taught through
traditions of plays and also models of the manger,
or crib, that Luke's Gospel states that the Jesus was
born in. Today the Christmas festival has elements
of Christian, Pagan and folk traditions and many
Christians and non-Christians have concerns about
its over-commercialisation.
Easter Day
Easter Day or Easter Sunday commemorates the
resurrection of Jesus as the Christ (God's Anointed)
after his death the Friday before (see Good Friday).
His disciples began to experience Christ to be with
them in a new way. Easter eggs are given which
symbolize the new life which Christians experience
and see at the heart of God's world.
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Christianity’s celebrations
Good Friday
The most important events in Christianity are the
death and resurrection of Jesus who Christians
believe to be the Son of God and whose life and
teachings are the foundation of Christianity. Good
Friday commemorates the death of Jesus by
crucifixion and is called 'Good' because of Jesus'
example of sacrificial love by giving his life for the
healing of the world. Christians meditate on Jesus'
suffering and death and sometimes hold
processions or re-enactments of the crucifixion.
25
Background of Buddhism
Buddhism is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha
Gautama more than 2,500 years ago in India. With
about 470 million followers, scholars consider
Buddhism one of the major world religions. Its
practice has historically been most prominent in
East and Southeast Asia, but its influence is
growing in the West. Many Buddhist ideas and
philosophies overlap with those of other faiths.
Buddhism Beliefs
Some key Buddhism beliefs include:
Followers of Buddhism don’t acknowledge a
supreme god or deity. They instead focus on
achieving enlightenment—a state of inner peace
and wisdom. When followers reach this spiritual
echelon, they’re said to have experienced nirvana.
26
Background of Buddhism
The religion’s founder, Buddha, is considered an
extraordinary being, but not a god. The word
Buddha means “enlightened.” The path to
enlightenment is attained by utilizing morality,
meditation and wisdom. Buddhists often meditate
because they believe it helps awaken truth. There
are many philosophies and interpretations within
Buddhism, making it a tolerant and evolving
religion. Some scholars don’t recognize Buddhism
as an organized religion, but rather, a “way of life”
or a “spiritual tradition.” Buddhism encourages its
people to avoid self-indulgence but also self-denial.
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Background of Buddhism
Buddha’s most important teachings, known as The
Four Noble Truths, are essential to understanding
the religion. Buddhists embrace the concepts of
karma and reincarnation (the continuous cycle of
rebirth). Followers of Buddhism can worship in
temples or in their own homes. Buddhist monks, or
bhikkhus, follow a strict code of conduct, which
includes celibacy.
28
History of Buddhism
The history of Buddhism spans from the 5th
century BCE to the present. Buddhism arose in
Ancient India, in and around the ancient Kingdom
of Magadha, and is based on the teachings of the
ascetic Siddhārtha Gautama. The religion evolved
as it spread from the northeastern region of the
Indian subcontinent throughout Central, East, and
Southeast Asia. At one time or another, it
influenced most of Asia. The history of Buddhism is
also characterized by the development of
numerous movements, schisms, and philosophical
schools, among them the Theravāda, Mahāyāna
and Vajrayāna traditions, with contrasting periods
of expansion and retreat. Siddhārtha Gautama (5th
cent. BCE) was the historical founder of Buddhism.
The early sources state he was born in the small
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History of Buddhism
Shakya (Pali: Sakya) Republic, which was part of the
Kosala realm of ancient India, now in modern-day
Nepal. He is thus also known as the Shakyamuni
(literally: "The sage of the Shakya clan"). The Early
Buddhist Texts contain no continuous life of the
Buddha, only later after 200 BCE were various
"biographies“ with much mythological
embellishment written. All texts agree however
that Gautama renounced the householder life and
lived as a sramana ascetic for some time studying
under various teachers, before attaining nirvana
(extinguishment) and bodhi (awakening) through
meditation. For the remaining 45 years of his life,
he traveled the Gangetic Plain of north-central
India, teaching his doctrine to a diverse range of
people.
30
Buddha’s House of Worship
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the
place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of
Buddhism. They include the structures called
vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different
regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism
represent the pure land or pure environment of a
Buddha. Traditional Buddhist temples are designed
to inspire inner and outer peace. Its architecture
and structure varies from region to region. Usually,
the temple consists not only of its buildings, but
also the surrounding environment. The Buddhist
temples are designed to symbolize five elements:
fire, air, water, earth and wisdom.
31
Buddhism’s Celebration
Magha Puja Day and Sangha Day
This celebration usually occurs on the day of full
moon in March. On this day, it is believed that the
Buddha gave his disciples a message, called the
"Ovadha Patimokha," and amazing things
happened.
Buddhist New Year
For three days after the first full moon of April,
Buddhists celebrate New Year’s Day in certain
countries. In other countries, the New Year is
celebrated around the full moon in January. The
time it is celebrated depends on the country and
people. For example, people in Tibet celebrate at
the full moon of February, while people in China,
Vietnam and Korea celebrate at the end of January
or the beginning of February.
32
Buddhism’s Celebration
Wesak
Celebrated on the full moon in May, this is the
most important Buddhist holiday. It is celebrated to
commemorate the death and birth of Buddha and
to remember how the Buddha became
enlightened. It is also an opportunity for Buddhists
to try to gain their own enlightenment.
Dharma Day
This day honors the start of the teachings of
Buddha. This event symbolizes the Buddha’s search
after his enlightenment to inform his previous
disciples of his enlightenment. Dharma Day
recognizes the beginning of Buddhism.
33
Buddhism’s Celebration
Parinirvana Day
Also called Nirvana Day, this holiday marks the
Buddha’s death. His death is celebrated because his
followers believe that by dying, Buddha left the
world of physical pain and suffering and achieved
enlightenment. Buddha taught enlightenment for
40 years, and was 80 years old when he died.
Buddha died while in a meditative state and
entered nirvana, a state in which he would no
longer die and be reborn again.
Kathina
Kathina is a holiday that occurs after Dharma Day at
the time of year when Buddhists give large
amounts of money to the poor or needy, called
giving alms. It is celebrated in October and
November at the end of the Vassa time, when
34
Buddhism’s Celebration
there are typically monsoons in many Buddhist
countries. At this time of year, Buddhist monks
have been in seclusion for three months, and
Kathina allows them to come out into public. When
they come out, the monks are offered cloth by
citizens. The offerings and celebrations can last an
entire month.
35
Background of Hinduism
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to
many scholars, with roots and customs dating back
more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900
million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest
religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95
percent of the world’s Hindus live in India. Because
the religion has no specific founder, it’s difficult to
trace its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in
that it’s not a single religion but a compilation of
many traditions and philosophies. Hinduism Beliefs
Some basic Hindu concepts include:
Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this
reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way of life”
or a “family of religions,” as opposed to a single,
organized religion.
.
36
Background of Hinduism
Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which
means they worship a single deity, known as
“Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and
goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple
paths to reaching their god.
Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the
continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation)
and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or
the belief in soul. This philosophy holds that living
creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the
supreme soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or
salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to
become part of the absolute soul.
One fundamental principle of the religion is the
idea that people’s actions and thoughts directly
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Background of Hinduism
determine their current life and future lives.
Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of
living that emphasizes good conduct and morality.
Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the
cow a sacred animal.
Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most
don’t eat beef or pork, and many are vegetarians
38
History of Hinduism
Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere
between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the Indus
Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. But many Hindus
argue that their faith is timeless and has always
existed. Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no
one founder but is instead a fusion of various
beliefs. Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people
migrated to the Indus Valley, and their language
and culture blended with that of the indigenous
people living in the region. There’s some debate
over who influenced whom more during this time.
The period when the Vedas were composed
became known as the “Vedic Period” and lasted
from about 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Rituals, such as
sacrifices and chanting, were common in the Vedic
Period.
39
History of Hinduism
The Epic, Puranic and Classic Periods took place
between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. Hindus began to
emphasize the worship of deities, especially
Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. The concept of dharma
was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such
as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly.
Medieval and Modern Hindu History
The Medieval Period of Hinduism lasted from about
500 to 1500 A.D. New texts emerged, and poet-
saints recorded their spiritual sentiments during
this time. In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs began
invading areas in India. During parts of the Muslim
Period, which lasted from about 1200 to 1757,
Islamic rulers prevented Hindus from worshipping
their deities, and some temples were destroyed.
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Hinduism’s house of worship
A temple in Hinduism is called a mandir and is a
special place where Hindus worship. In countries
where there are many Hindus, such as India, most
towns will have a mandir so all people can worship
easily. Hindu temples are decorated elaborately as
they represent the idea of a palace, which
highlights the idea that God is like a king. The
outside of some temples have statues of various
deities or scenes from important stories in
Hinduism. As there are so many gods in Hinduism,
it is not possible for every temple to have a statue
of each one. This means that each temple has
statues of many popular gods. In the main shrine
room there is a dome that reaches up high. This is
to symbolise the idea that Hindus can reach up to
God.
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Hinduism’s celebrations
Diwali
Diwali is the festival of lights for Hindus and Sikhs.
The celebration lasts for five days and is marked by
sweets, fireworks and lights. It celebrates the
triumph of good, light and knowledge over evil,
darkness and ignorance. Diwali celebrates a good
year of harvesting and honors the Goddess of
Wealth. Diwali usually takes place in October or
November, but the date is different each year
because it is based on the Hindu calendar. During
this holiday, all buildings are adorned with many
Diyas, which are oil lamps. It is believed that the
lamps guide Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, to
the homes of Hindus. Hindus thank Lakshmi by
opening the windows of their houses and by
drawing images of lotus flowers. They also draw
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Hinduism’s celebrations
colorful patterns on the floor called Rangolis.
During Diwali, Hindus give and receive gifts
especially sweets. They also celebrate with feasts
and gambling.
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