Encyclopedia of Islam

as “a person who professes the religion of Islam.”
There are few obstacles to anyone who wishes to
convert from Buddhism or Christianity to Islam.
During the last decades of the 20th century
and the early 21st century Malaysia has been
dominated by the United Malays National Orga-
nization (UMNO), seen as the more moderate
political party of the Muslim community. It is
opposed by the Parti-Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), a
more conservative group that has as its stated goal
the transformation of Malaysia into an Islamic
state that would adhere to sharia law, including its
punishments, such as amputation and stoning.
See also bUddhism and islam; bUmipUtri; dar
Ul-arqam; colonialism; crime and pUnishment; id
al-adha; sUltan.

J. Gordon Melton

Further reading: R. W. Hefner, The Politics of Multi-
culturalism: Pluralism and Citizenship in Malaysia, Sin-
gapore, and Indonesia (Honolulu: University of Hawaii
Press, 2001); J. A. Nagata, The Reflowering of Malaysian
Islam: Modern Religious Radicals and Their Roots (Van-
couver: University of British Columbia Press, 1984);
Michael G. Peletz, Islamic Modern: Religious Courts and
Cultural Politics in Malaysia (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton
University Press, 2002); P. Sloane, Islam, Modernity,
and Entrepreneurship among the Malays (New York: St.
Martin’s Press in association with St. Antony’s College
Oxford, 1999).

Malcolm X (Malcolm Little) (1925–1965)
Black nationalist, activist, and Muslim leader who
advocated Black pride and separatism for African
Americans
Malcolm Little, the future Malcolm X, was born in
Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up primarily in Bos-
ton. His father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister
who openly supported the United Negro Move-
ment and its leader, Marcus Garvey (1887–1940).
Consequently the family endured frequent threats
from white extremist groups. These threats even-

tually culminated in their father’s murder. Later

Malcolm’s mother was institutionalized due to

stress and mental illness, and, as a result, Malcolm

was separated from his family and went to live

with his half-sister, Ella, in Boston. Subsequently

he entered a phase of crime, gambling, and drug

abuse. In 1946 he was charged with robbery and

imprisoned in Massachusetts. It was in this con-

text that Malcolm was introduced to the nation

oF islam. At the age of 22, he became a self-

avowed member of the movement, passionately

supporting its teachings, including the perception

of whites as a “devil race,” the need for black lib-

eration and separatism, and the goal of displaying

personal discipline through modest Islamic dress

and eating habits. Malcolm left prison in 1952

and began working for Elijah Muhammad (1897–

1975), the leader of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm

idolized Elijah and soon took a leadership posi-

tion within the Nation. During this time Malcolm

Malcom X (Library of Congress)

Malcolm X 453 J