This article is typed solely based on opinions and reference from the book entitled Malay Folk Beliefs, An Integration of Disparate Elements by Mohd Taib Osman and wikipedia.
As with all Muslims, the observance of Islam among the Malays centers around the five pillars or foundations of Islam which are:
a. Syahadat or testimony to be pronounced by every Muslim that there is but one God, Allah and Muhammad is His chosen prophet. When a Muslim is born, the azan is whispered into his ear. When he is on his deathbed, he should utter the same testimony.
b. Five daily prayers. This is compulsory for all Muslims especially once they reach puberty.
Those who are not capable of carrying out this task are not totally exempted from doing it.
There are certain rukhsah or 'loop-hole' so to speak which fits to their needs.
c. Fasting during the month of Ramadan. d. Paying the annual tithe of tax
e. Pilgrimage to Mecca
The practice of Islam is both an individual and communal affair. Islam DOES NOT support a clerical class but it recognizes leadership based on piety and knowledgeability in religious matters. The beauty of Islam is the simple fact that NOTHING is forced. To put it simply, if you have a gastric, you can break your fast. If you have paralysis, you can pray by sitting down on the floor. If you can't afford the annual tax or zakat, you just pay according to how much you can afford. If you can't afford a pilgrimage to Mecca, you don't have to go! There is no such thing as you'll be less a Muslim if you are NOT ABLE to fulfill or build these pillars perfectly. What matters is your faith in the religion itself and your practices of what is haram and halal.
The problem of today's Malay society is we are somewhat...confused between religious obligation and cultural/customary obligation. The division between customs and reliigon can be so close that in some areas the two tend to merge.
1: The Malay Wedding Custom
A Malay wedding spreads over two days beginning with the akad nikah ceremony. The groom signs the marriage contract and agrees to provide the bride with a mas kahwin. After that, their hands are dyed with henna during the berinai ceremony. The second day. teh groom is accompanied by friends, relatives, musicians and palm blossom carriers to the bride's house where they are usually greeted with the sprinkling of yellow rice and scented water. Sometimes, the traditional Malay Martial Art is performed.
During the bersanding ceremony, the bridal couple will be seated on the dais. Each guest will receive a bunga telur, which means 'flower' and 'egg'- a symbol of fertile union.
We often hear/read from media sources how people (in the case the Malays) spend thousands and maybe even hundreds of thousands for a wedding. In Islam, this is not advisable. A wedding in simple translation would be the holy union between two beings. There is no need for the groom to pay a huge amount of money for the dowry (duit hantaran). In fact, the dowry is not even necessary! But customs and religions have been mixed in a huge pot of confusion throughout generations and the end product is a rule; dowry is compulsory.
In the end, some may end up not married simply because they cannot afford a lavish wedding and a big dowry. Some even compete to see who gets the best dowry.
In Islam, it is a sin to waste. Think about it logically, why should you spend RM 15000 for ONE wedding dress when you'll only wear it for a few hours? You might as well spend it on a downpayment for a car or something. Please take note that in most weddings, the bride and groom would have at least THREE pairs of wedding outfit. One for the akad nikah, one for the persandingan, and another for the photoshoot. It's hilarious isn't it? But this is true.
2: Understanding and Practices.
In most places, religious studies and instructions are carried out at the mosque, including the reading of the Qur'an. In Malay life, marriage contract, divorce, inheritance and even social interaction, to a certain extent, are all governed by Islamic law. Violation of such law would amount to renouncing the faith itself. Hence religion to the Malay is more than just an act of piety, it is a guide to conduct in life. All these 'instructions' and guide-lines can be obtained from the Holy Qur'an itself.
Most Malays also inherit the belief of supernatural forces alien to Islam. Most believe that there are situations in which there is a margin of uncertainty or chance involved, they have to to come to terms with various forms of spirits. Customs and traditions have taught them how reduce the danger by proper negotiation with the spirits. This is incompatible with the teachings of the Qur'an. The ideas and rituals involving the spirits predate Islam in the Malay Peninsula, but they continue to have a place within the framework of the customs of the Muslim Malay.
Malay folk beliefs continue to persist and coexist with the belief and practice of Islam. Just as how the imam is the central figure in the religious life, there are also specialists whose role in Malay community covers that area involving spirit beliefs, magic and the curing of diseases and ailments. These specialists are called pawang or bomoh. They are also practitioners of magic engaged in divining lost properties and in dispensing charms and spells for good or evil ends.
They sometimes use verses and sentencs from the Qur'an to 'ward off' the evil spirits.
An example of a religious+custom practice would be Mandi Safar. Nowhere is it prescribed in the Qur'an, nor can it be traced to the traditions of the Prophet. But the Malays mark the occasion by bathing in or drinking water which has been consecrated with a Qur'an verse written on a piece of paper or leaf. The idea is to wash themselves clean of every spiritual taint and uncleanliness that may draw misfortunes and accidents during the coming of the year.
In conclusion, customs play an important role in a Malay's life. Just because you're a Malay, it does not make you a Muslim. It all boils down to how you practice your religion. It finally ends when you can set a difference between customs and religion. Customs and traditions paints the pure, white, untouched religion with vibrant colours. It is something that makes this world a more interesting yet confusing place to live in.
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