Page 107 - E-BOOK SEJARAH DAN BUDAYA INDONESIA

and prosper it (Irianto, 2015). This goes along with the word of Allah SWT in the letter Al Baqarah
verse 30 which reads:

"Indeed I want to make a caliph on earth"

Trust

Malays are almost entirely Muslim. However, remnants of elements of Hinduism and animism can
still be seen in their belief system. Islam cannot eliminate all elements of this belief. The process
of syncretism occurs where elements of belief before Islam exist latent or are adapted to elements
of Islam. This process can clearly be found in Malay medicine (traditional medicine), and in some
traditional ceremonies.

In Malay society, they distinguish between religion and belief. According to the Malay
community, the religions that are considered by them are major religions that are recognized by
the government. Such as Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism and Buddhism. While beliefs
such as worship of 'gods' and belief in the power of spirits (jinns, ghosts, gnomes, sikodi and
others) are only considered as beliefs. As found in the 'alienated' tribes – the Talang Mamak Tribe,
the Akit Tribe, the Sea Tribe, and so on. As well as beliefs that also cover the issue of ceremonies
born from the old habits of the Malays, such as fresh flour, dead soil and others.[2]

Belief in the soul, spirit or spirit greatly affects human life. This belief can be expressed
through myths and legends. Myths are stories about gods and goddesses and extraordinary beings
that form the basis of religious beliefs and systems. While the legend is a story about natural events,
sacred, tombs, or graves and trees that are considered religious or related to the spirit of someone
who is famous in a certain place.[3]
This spirit is known as the ancestral hyang. The belief in ancestor worship has an
impression in the form of animal paintings in caves that are widely available in Irian Jaya and the
mengkalitik tradition of building large stones as a sign of respect for the ancestors. This megalithic
tradition is found in most places in Indonesia such as Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Sumbawa, and Bali
as well as Malacca and Negeri Sembilan in Malay Land.[4]

But actually what is said in Malay society is not only in old beliefs that are relics of the
past such as animism, but also beliefs that have come after, such as Hindu religious beliefs,
Buddhism and Islam itself. Where Islam came last to accommodate all the elements of this culture
slowly, as well as conduct searches on things that are contrary to Islam.[5]

In Malay society, what is called a belief is not only an old belief that is a relic of the past,
but also a popular Islamic belief, namely some of the treatment of Malays related to outside power.
In the religious treatment of the Malays there is a perception of the official religion they profess
and old beliefs, but this perception of course differs from one place to another.

The relationship between official religion and belief in Malay society can be seen in the
various ceremonies performed. There are at least three elements that develop in Malay society,

107