Religious Moderation in Motion: Diaspora Identity, Institutional Practice, and the Wasatiyah Tradition Among Indonesian Migrants in Malaysia
Keywords:
Surau Syaichona Cholil Malaysia, Indonesian migrant workers, religious moderation, tolerance, moderate IslamAbstract
Religious moderation has emerged as a central commitment within contemporary Islamic discourse, particularly in societies marked by religious and cultural plurality. This study examines the implementation of moderate Islam among the congregation of Surau Syaichona Moh. Cholil in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a religious community composed predominantly of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who have established the surau as a hub for spiritual, social, and cultural activities. Employing a descriptive qualitative case-study design, the research draws on in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation to capture the lived religious experience of this diaspora community. The findings demonstrate that the congregation embodies four principal indicators of religious moderation as defined by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs: national commitment, as evidenced by their sustained patriotism and preference for Indonesian cultural products; tolerance, reflected in their respectful engagement with people of diverse ethnicities and faiths; an anti-violence orientation, manifest in pedagogical approaches that foreground gentleness and wisdom; and adaptability to local culture, seen in their participation in both homeland traditions such as Maulid Nabi observances and Malaysian communal customs. The study contributes to a growing body of scholarship on diaspora religiosity and offers practical insights for policy efforts aimed at fostering moderate Islamic values within multicultural migrant communities.
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