Wisdom-Based Guidance for Muslim Converts: The Role of Religious Institutions and NGOs in Navigating Non-Islamic Festival Celebrations

Muslim converts who attend non-Islamic celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Christmas often face dilemmas between preserving their faith and maintaining social harmony. On one hand, Islamic law emphasizes the importance of safeguarding one’s Ê¿aqÄ«dah (Islamic faith) from any elements of polytheism and non-Islamic ritual practices. On the other hand, family relationships with non-Muslim relatives require approaches based on respect, compassion (ihsan), and sensitivity to cultural norms. This study aims to examine the approaches adopted by religious institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in guiding Muslim converts when navigating issues related to participating in non-Islamic celebrations across selected zones in Sabah, Johor, Penang, and Kelantan. The study employs a qualitative design using document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key informants from the four selected zones in Malaysia. Findings indicate that state religious institutions adopt a wisdom-based approach through the issuance of official guidelines guided by fatwas, the organization of alternative Islamic programs, and the provision of continuous psychosocial support to Muslim converts. NGOs complement these efforts by offering emotional support, religious education classes, and daÊ¿wah approaches that are sensitive to the Muslim converts’ original cultural backgrounds. All these approaches emphasize the separation of cultural practices from religious rituals and uphold the identity of Muslim converts as Muslims living within non-Muslim family environments. The study recommends that frameworks such as fiqh al-taÊ¿Ä yush (coexistence jurisprudence), maqasid al-shariah (objectives of Islamic law), and daÊ¿wah bil á¸¥Ä l (contextualized preaching) be adopted as the main foundation in developing comprehensive national guidelines to support converts in navigating non-Islamic celebrations in Malaysia.