Religious Moderation and Social Harmony in the Multiethnic Society of the Strait of Malacca Region

Abstract

The communities in the Malacca Strait region have multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious characteristics formed through historical interactions, trade, migration, and cultural exchanges among various coastal communities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the surrounding areas. This diversity serves as social capital in building a harmonious life, but it also presents challenges such as exclusivism, intergroup prejudice, and tensions related to religious identity. This research aims to analyze the role of religious moderation in strengthening social harmony among the multi-ethnic communities of the Malacca Strait region and to examine the contribution of Islamic education in instilling values of tolerance, balance, respect for differences, and coexistence. This research uses a qualitative approach with a literature review method. The data sources include scientific journal articles, books, policy documents, and academic publications relevant to religious moderation, Islamic education, multi-ethnic society, Malay culture, and social harmony in the Malacca Strait region. The literature is analyzed descriptively-analytically through the processes of identification, selection, classification, comparison, and synthesis of findings to obtain patterns of relationships between religious moderation, Islamic education, and social harmony. The study results show that religious moderation serves as a value framework in building inclusive social relations through the strengthening of tolerance, respect for diversity, rejection of violence, and acceptance of local wisdom. Islamic education has a strategic contribution in transmitting these values through the formation of open, balanced, tolerant attitudes, and appreciation of differences. In the context of the Malay community in the Malacca Strait region, the integration of religious moderation, Islamic education, and local cultural wisdom has the potential to strengthen solidarity, cross-cultural dialog, and social cohesion. The novelty of this research lies in the development of a conceptual synthesis that connects religious moderation, Islamic education, and Malay culture as a basis for strengthening social harmony in the multi-ethnic society of the Malacca Strait region.