Da‘wah in Sabah, Malaysia (1963-1973): Tun Datu Mustapha Effort and Contributions
Abstract
This study examines the development of da‘wah in Sabah after independence, focusing on the strategies and socio-political factors that led to the declaration of Islam as the state religion in 1973. Although Islam had been introduced earlier through the Sultanates of Brunei and Sulu, its institutional expansion remained limited under British colonial rule due to weak political support and the dominance of Christian missionary structures. Employing qualitative thematic analysis of archival documents, official reports, the Sabah State Constitution, and relevant secondary sources, this study analyzes how Tun Datu Mustapha and the United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA) strengthened Islam’s institutional presence. Key initiatives included mosque construction, Islamic education, welfare support for mualaf, and the mobilization of transnational preachers. Interpreted through post-colonial governance, religious economy, and pluralism frameworks, the findings demonstrate that organized da‘wah combined with political leadership significantly reshaped Sabah’s religious demography and institutional structure, culminating in the constitutional recognition of Islam under Article 5(A). By foregrounding Sabah as an under-examined case within Southeast Asian Islamic history, this study contributes empirically to debates on Islamization in plural societies, highlighting how state authority, organizational capacity, and inter-religious competition interact in shaping religious transformation.
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