Examining co-operative challenges in sustaining the economic well-being and education of Muslim reverts (muallaf) in Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jeeir.v13i2.4302Keywords:
Cooperative, Educational Opportunities, Financial Well-Being, RevertAbstract
In Malaysia, where religion is intricately linked with state policy, muallaf, individual who convert to Islam, are defined differently under state laws. Islamic teachings emphasise the importance of supporting muallaf by providing them with knowledge, guidance, and financial assistance, particularly through zakat. However, zakat aid is often short-term and limited by the eligibility criteria for asnaf recipients. To facilitate their integration into Islam and provide sustained support, the establishment of a co-operative for muallaf is proposed. Such co-operatives can offer a broader range of financial services and are more flexible, with greater potential to empower muallaf economically and sustainably. This paper aims to identify the challenges faced by co-operatives in maintaining the financial well-being and educational opportunities of muallaf in Malaysia. This study adopts a qualitative approach. The findings reveal several obstacles encountered by co-operatives in supporting muallaf, including legal limitations, financial constraints, educational barriers, and the limited availability of Islamic products. The study concludes by proposing measures to enhance the economic stability and educational access of muallaf in Malaysia.
References
Ab. Rahman, A., Mohd Subri, I., Abdul Mutalib @ Taib, M., Mohd Dali, N. R. S., Wan Razali, W. M. F. A., Ibrahim, R. I., & Ismail, N. (2018). Analisis pentafsiran mualaf menurut Islam dan enakmen pentadbiran agama Islam negeri di Malaysia. Journal of Fatwa Management and Research, 6(1), 9-37. https://doi.org/10.33102/jfatwa.vol6no1.71
Ab. Rahman, M. S., Mohd Nor, M. J., & Md. Zain, S. (2017). Pemantapan pengurusan penyelidikan. Penerbit UKM.
Abd Rahman, N., & Zakaria, Z. (2018). Kecekapan pengurusan koperasi di Malaysia Journal of Nusantara Studies, 3(2), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol3iss2pp134-146
Abd Majid, M. A. (2012). Muallaf di Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan: Kajian terhadap kepuasan diri di Negeri Selangor [Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Malaya].
Abdul Ghani, Z. (2017). Konversi agama: Memahami psikologi dan komunikasi berkesan kepada saudara baru. In F. Md. Sham, S. R. Hj. Tibek, & O. Hj. Taib (Eds.), Dakwah dan kaunseling di Malaysia (pp. 71-80). Penerbit UKM.
Abdullah, N. A. M. T. (2009). Cabaran psikologi saudara baru: Kajian di Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur [Master’s thesis, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia].
Abdullah, N. A. M. T., & Sham, F. M. (2009). Keperluan memahami psikologi saudara Muslim. Jurnal Hadhari, 2, 83-97.
Ahmad, S. (2021, August 28). Pendidikan formal perlu bagi penghayatan Islam babit muallaf. Berita Harian. https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2021/08/857047/pendidikan-formal-perlu-bagi-penghayatan-islam-babit-mualaf/
Awang, A. & Che Mat, A. (2024). The role of the Islamic guidance center as an information and integration site for muallafs. Jurnal Afkar, 26(1): 307-342. https://doi.org/10.22452/afkar.vol26no1.10
Awang, A., Che Mat, A., Musa, R., & Abdul Ghani, R. (2023). The effects of Islamic education on religiosity among Muallaf students in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(1), 290-309. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8iss1pp290-309
Aliakbar, M. Z., & Md Rasip, Z. (2023). Cabaran muallaf di Malaysia dan cadangan penyelesaian. Jurnal Pengajian Islam, 16(1), 121-132.
Bhari, A., Khalid, M. M., Yaakob, M. A. Z., Yusof, M. F. M. Y. & Noor, M. S. M. (2019). Analisis konsep muallaf menurut perspektif fiqh dan amalan di Malaysia. In A. Abd. Wahab, M. A. Mat Rani, & M. I. A. Mohd Ari (Eds.), Potensi muallaf mendepani cabaran era kontemporari (pp. 255-262). Institut Kajian Zakat (IKAZ), Akademi Pengajian Islam Kontemporari (ACIS).
Chuah, O., & Muhamad Shukri, A. S. (2008). Muslim converts in Malaysia: The problem of cultural adjustment. IIUM Press.
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. (2010). Kamus Dewan (4th ed.). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Hamid. H. A. (2020). Resolusi seminar antarbangsa Muallaf. Edisi MAIS, 8. https://www.mais.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Final-EDISI-MAIS-Bil.1.2020-1.pdf
Hamzah, I. (2017). Koperasi dalam perspektif hukum Islam (Telaah kritis pemikiran hukum Islam Taqiyyuddin al-Nabhani). Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam, 11(1), 103-112. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v11i1.1272
Ibnu Manzur, M. B. M. (1998). Lisan al-‘Arab. Dar Sadir.
Idris, I. & Safaai, S. (2012). Pengenalan koperasi. Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd.
International Cooperative Alliance. (n.d.). Cooperative identity, values & principles. https://ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity
Ismail, A. M., & Ali, M. N. S. (2018). Kaedah penyelidikan sosial dari perspektif Islam. Penerbit UKM.
Ismail, I., & Said, M. S. (2012). Pengenalan koperasi. Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd.
Ismail, W. M., Mahat, I., & Mazlan, N. (2020). Awareness on prohibited elements in Muamalat: Common practice in life. Journal of Contemporary Islamic Studies, 96-97.
Kasimin, A. (1985). Saudara baru Cina di Wilayah Persekutuan dan Selangor. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Lajuni, N., Kasuma, J., Yacob, Y., Azali, N., Emang, W., & Ismail, M. (2020). Islamic financial products/services and the intention to use. Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics, 24, 153-172. https://majcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Vol-24-2020-Paper-7.pdf
Mat, A. C., Awang A., Ghani, R. , & Musa R. (2019). Beberapa istilah terjemahan saudara baru: Satu analisis komponen makna. In A. Bhari, M. M. Khalid, & M. A. Yaakob (Eds.), Memperkasakan potensi mualaf era kontemporari (pp. 133-156). Institut Kajian Zakat (IKAZ) & Akademi Pengajian Islam Kontemporari.
Mohamed Hisham, Y. (2004). Kesan penggabungan dan pengambilalihan ke atas kecekapan syarikat - syarikat di Malaysia: Pendekatan DEA. Fakulti Ekonomi dan Perniagaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Morshidi, M. H. (2017). Cabaran koperasi dalam melaksanakan aktiviti perniagaan. Dimensi Koop, 53, 26-33.
Muhamat @ Kawangit, R. (2014). Muallaf: Permasalahan dan penyelesaian. Jabatan Pengajian Dakwah dan Kepimpinan, Fakulti Pengajian Islam, UKM.
Muharam, R. (2023, October 10). Alhamdulillah, bilangan muallaf semakin bertambah. Harian Metro. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2023/10/1018459/alhamdulillah-bilangan-mualaf-semakin-bertambah
Munajat, M. (2021). Strategi pengurusan badan sokongan koperasi dalam melaksanakan konsep dan pemahaman halal dalam sektor koperasi di Malaysia. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Halal Management Conference (3rd IHMC 2021) (pp.200-203). Faculty of Economy and Muamalat, USIM. https://oarep.usim.edu.my/server/api/core/bitstreams/4ebeebfc-0d37-4f31-b242-3813182b3820/content
Ng, I. (2013). Dengan lafaz 2 kalimah syahadah. Must Read Sdn Bhd.
Othman, I. W., Mohamad, M., & Abdullah, A. (2013). Cooperative movements in Malaysia: The issue of governance. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology: International Journal of Economics and Management Engineering, 7(6), 1488-1492.
Portal Rasmi Parlimen Malaysia. (2023). Mesyuarat pertama, penggal kedua parlimen kelima belas 2023. https://www.parlimen.gov.my/files/jindex/pdf/JBL05042023.pdf
Punding, A. Y., Sheikh Mohammad, S., & Abu Bakar, N. (2024). Zakat collections and distributions within zakat institutions in Malaysia. Journal of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research, 12(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.24191/jeeir.v12i1.852
Puteh, A. (2005). Keperluan bimbingan kepada saudara baru. In R. Muhamat @ Kawangit, F. Hj. Badaruddin, & K. K. Omar (Eds.), Masa depan saudara baru (pp. 29-35). Pusat Islam UKM.
Qutb, S. (1998). Fi zilal al-Qur’an (Vol. 3). Dar al-Mashruq.
Rahman, N. N. H. A. (2017). Transformasi hubungan kekeluargaan dan kepuasan kerja saudara kita selepas memeluk Islam di Johor [Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia].
Ramli, W. A. (1990). Pengurusan masa kini (3rd ed.). Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd.
Shaharuddin, S. A., Shaharuddin, H. N., Abdullah, M. Y. M., Misra, M. K. A., & Fauzan, A. S. (2017). Cabaran dan permasalahan muallaf dan penyelesaian oleh Hidayah Centre Foundation (HCF). In Proceedings of the Seminar Penyelidikan Sirah Nabawi dan Pemikiran (ISRA’) (pp.1-9). Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor (KUIS). https://conference.uis.edu.my/isra/eprosiding/pdf/021-ISRA-2017.pdf
Subri, I. M., Rahman, A. A., Mutalib, M. A., Shah, N. R., Fazrul Azdi, W. M., Ibrahim, R. I., Shamsudin, S. N., Musaddad, N. A., & Ismail, N. (2015). Penerimaan penggunaan istilah muallaf dalam kalangan muallaf di Malaysia. Jurnal Infad, 6(1), 111-134. https://doi.org/10.33102/jfatwa.vol6no1.76
Ulum, F. (2017). Brotherhood dalam dimensi sistem ekonomi Islam. Islamica Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 11(2), 499-521. https://doi.org/10.15642/islami-ca.2017.11.2.499-521
Wuryani, E., Puspasari, D., & Puspasari, D. (2019). Pengembangan model akses modal bagi koperasi dan UMKM di Jawa Timur. Cakrawala, 13(1), 93-108. https://cakrawalajournal.org/index.php/cakrawala/article/view/297
Yacob, Y., Kasuma Ali, J., Lajuni, N., Md Radzi, M. B., Said, M. S. A., Pakasa, U. I., & Jusoh, I. N. (2023). Peranan koperasi kariah masjid dalam memperkasakan sosio ekonomi umat Islam: Isu dan cabaran. Proceedings of the Borneo Islamic International Conference, 14, (pp.90-95). https://majmuah.com/journal/index.php/kaib1
Zaman, S. M. H. (1984). Definition of Islamic economics. Journal of Research in Islamic Economics, 1(2), 49-50.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Zulkhairi Zakariah, Mohd. Zuhaili Kamal Basir, Azlan Yusof Punding, Muhammad Anas Abdul Razak
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
