In the Name of Identity : Islam Melayu Patani

Abstract

This article places an emphasis on the “realities” of Muslims and Muslim society more than the debate about being Islamic or not. It focuses on ethnic diversity of the Malay Muslim which has been touched on lately given the complexity of the Muslim society. This article is an attempt to discuss diversity in Muslim society in SBPs in terms of its way of thinking, subculture in daily life, social status, anticipation of the future, and adaptation to cope with modernity as well as global transformation as a result of Western globalization and globalization in the Arab world of people of different ages and its dynamism. It is an effort to shed light on and respond to the questions already raised as to how the differences play any role in the relations that affect the incumbent violent situation. It is an attempt to argue that the phenomenal differences can be attributed to both the past and present globalizations. Also, the differences are useful for discovering traces of social conflicts among the Malay Muslim. The article argued that such conflicts are so natural and intrinsic to the existing interconnectedness within the Muslim society, they have worryingly multiplied themselves and are compounded by the modern nation state mechanisms. As people are prompted to take side, it has led to mutual suspicion in the SBP Malay society. In particular, the credibility and legitimacy of local institutions has been eroded and it has contributed to the intensification the causes of violent conflicts in the area.