Tahap Pengamalan Asas Islam Dalam Kalangan Mualaf Melalui Kelas Bimbingan Mualaf: Kajian di Hidayah Centre Foundation, Lembah Klang

Level of Basic Islamic Practice Among Converts Through Conversion Guidance Classes: A Study at Hidayah Centre Foundation, Klang Valley

Abstract

The increasing number of Muslim converts necessitates a sustained commitment from the Muslim community to guide them in understanding and practicing the teachings of Islam. In Malaysia, various government and non-government agencies play a significant role in providing conversion guidance classes as an educational platform to strengthen converts’ foundational understanding of Islam. A sound understanding of the fundamentals of Islam is essential to enable Muslim converts to practice Islamic teachings consistently in their daily lives. Accordingly, this study was conducted to analyse the level of basic Islamic practices among Muslim converts who participated in the Conversion Guidance Classes organised by the Hidayah Centre Foundation in the Klang Valley. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, comprising quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 118 Muslim converts, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with five informants. Questionnaire data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 through descriptive statistical analysis, whereas interview data were analysed and presented descriptively. The findings indicate that the majority of Muslim converts demonstrated a high level of basic Islamic practice, as reflected in both the mean values of all measured items and the insights obtained from the informant interviews. The level of basic Islamic practice was assessed based on two main aspects, namely worship (ibadah) and moral conduct (akhlak). Specifically, the level of worship practices recorded high mean values across all items, ranging from 4.69 to 4.92. Similarly, all items related to moral conduct achieved high mean values, ranging from 4.81 to 4.95. Overall, the findings suggest that the Conversion Guidance Classes play a crucial role in enhancing the level of basic Islamic practices among Muslim converts.