The Integration of Exoteric and Esoteric: Towards a More Holistic Islamic Practice

Islam di Malaysia: Mencari Keseimbangan di antara Dimensi Eksoterik dan Esoterik

Authors

  • Arfah Ab Majid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33102/sainsinsani.vol7no2.430

Keywords:

Exoteric; esoteric; Islam; Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, Malaysian Muslims seem to have experienced an upsurge in religious awareness and practices.  The increasing religious trends could be seen from the mode of dressing especially among the Muslim women such as the wearing of hijab and niqab; the use of Arabic words to replace the Malay words in daily conversation and greeting such as solat to replace sembahyang, iftar to replace buka puasa and Eid Mubarak to replace Selamat Hari Raya and the mushrooming of religious programs and events such as World #QuranHour and Malam Cinta Rasul.  Unfortunately, despite these inspiring Islamic awareness and practices, issues related to morality, crimes, discrimination, corruption and other unethical conducts associated with the Muslims are also on the rise.  This is due to the fact that what seems to have increased are only the exoteric dimension of the religion i.e. the exterior rules, regulations and visible practices, not the esoteric part i.e. the interiority and the spirituality.  This paper aims at exploring the phenomenon of the pervasiveness of the exoteric aspect of religion compared to the esoteric aspect and assessing the consequences of the imbalance between these two dimensions.  The expression of exoteric dimensions solely without the cultivation of the esoteric part has rendered bad impression and misinterpretation of the true Islamic teaching.   A holistic Islamic practice that encompasses both exoteric and esoteric dimensions is essential for producing the best ummah.

 

Abstrak: Dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, umat Islam Malaysia nampaknya telah mengalami peningkatan dalam kesedaran dan amalan agama. Tren keagamaan yang semakin meningkat dapat dilihat daripada cara berpakaian khususnya di kalangan wanita Islam seperti pemakaian tudung dan niqab; penggunaan perkataan Arab bagi menggantikan perkataan Melayu dalam percakapan dan sapaan harian seperti solat menggantikan sembahyang, iftar menggantikan berbuka puasa dan Eid Mubarak menggantikan Selamat Hari Raya serta peningkatan program dan acara keagamaan seperti World #QuranHour dan Malam Cinta Rasul. Malangnya, di sebalik kesedaran dan amalan Islam yang memberi inspirasi ini, isu-isu berkaitan moral, jenayah, diskriminasi, rasuah dan kelakuan tidak beretika lain yang dikaitkan dengan umat Islam juga semakin meningkat. Ini disebabkan oleh hakikat bahawa apa yang kelihatan meningkat hanyalah dimensi eksoterik agama iaitu peraturan luaran, undang-undang dan amalan yang boleh dilihat, bukan bahagian esoterik iaitu dalaman dan kerohanian. Kertas kerja ini bertujuan untuk meneroka fenomena keluasan aspek eksoterik agama berbanding aspek esoterik dan menilai akibat ketidakseimbangan antara kedua-dua dimensi ini. Ekspresi dimensi eksoterik semata-mata tanpa penyemaian dimensi esoterik telah memberikan tanggapan buruk dan salah tafsiran terhadap ajaran Islam yang sebenar. Amalan Islam holistik yang merangkumi kedua-dua dimensi eksoterik dan esoterik adalah penting untuk melahirkan ummah yang terbaik.

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Published

2022-11-30
CITATION
DOI: 10.33102/sainsinsani.vol7no2.430
Published: 2022-11-30
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How to Cite

Ab Majid, A. (2022). The Integration of Exoteric and Esoteric: Towards a More Holistic Islamic Practice: Islam di Malaysia: Mencari Keseimbangan di antara Dimensi Eksoterik dan Esoterik . Sains Insani, 7(2), 56-63. https://doi.org/10.33102/sainsinsani.vol7no2.430
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