According to http://www.thefreedictionary.

com, Malay is a member of a people inhabiting Malaysia, the northern Malay Peninsula, and parts of the western Malay Archipelago.

Kamus Dewan Online http://prpm.dbp.gov.my/ defined Malay is the people / person. The Malays originated from the Malayo-Polynesian group of races. The largest ethnic group in Malaysia and Malays are Muslims (Islamic). Use Bahasa Malaysia @ Bahasa Melayu as the main language in communication.

Despite the Islamic dominancy in their daily lives, the Malays still strongly believe in their customs and rituals, traditional beliefs and a fusion of cultures which manifests in arts, festival and important ceremonies.

Ancestral Beliefs in Malays

Keramat
Acccording to Richard Winstedt (1924) the keramat is the ancient belief in spirit and soul. It sites and classified into six categories : 1. Natural objects (such as rocks, hill tops, caves and whirlpools) 2. Sacred tigers and crocodiles

4. Graves of founders of settlements

5. Grave of Muslims saints

3. Graves of Magicians

6. Living Muslims saints

http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/malay/publications/working_papers/CheuHT%20-%20Mly%20keramat%20Chinese%20worshippers.pdf

Keramat
Animate Objects Inanimate Objects

Humans

Animals
Tigers Death Deer

Plants Rocks Mounds

Living

Berangan

Muslims Saints Magicians

Kerayong
Crocodiles

Hilltops

Capes

Whirlpools
Muslim Saints Pioneers

Sheikhs

Sufis

http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/malay/publications/working_papers/CheuHT%20-%20Mly%20keramat%20Chinese%20worshippers.pdf

When the death occurs the village headman will be told with their neighbours too.

Ritual celebrating death

It maybe done personally or by special solemn bedok from the surau.

The funeral should take place as soon as possible.

The Death Ritual in Malay

Then the talkin is recited. After the funeral the small feast together with Yassin and tahlil are held.Three days, seventh days,twentieth day, fortieth day and finally on the hundredth days. Next, the death will be commemorated on the anniversary. The body is buried lying directly on its right side on the ground while the coffin placed over it acting as a cover.

The body called mayat is prepared for burial in special way.

It is carefully washed,held in the tap of the chief mourner.Then comphorated water is rubbed over it before it is wrapped in a shroud.

A prayer Solat Jenazah will be held followed by doa when the body put in the coffin,then lifted up,laid across the threshold,partly outside the house. This is done 3 times.

This is usually made on the same day as the funeral. The face is not covered so that the family may kiss the forehead of the dead person before the body laid in the coffin

http://www1.sarawak.com.my/org/hornbill/m y/swk/borneo/malays/

The rituals do not significantly differ from those of the Moors though a custom exists where a dish known as umping (rice flakes) and dates are served at the funeral after the burial.

Prayers often recited at sunrise and sunset at home of the deceased for forty days after the funeral and conducted on the 3rd, 15th,20th,30th, and the 40th day after death. The 40th day ceremorny is the biggest of these functions and is helad at night with the guests invited for dinner after the prayers,Yassin and tahlil are over.

FUNERAL RITES
http://sailanmuslim.com/news/wpcontent/uploads/malay-birthmarriage-and-funeral-customs.pdf

Following the prayers, the other food will be conyeved to the closest mosque and given to the Lebbe or Muadhdhin or distributed among the poor.

Festivals celebrated by the Malays

Also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Hari Raya Puasa celebrated after a month of Holy Ramadhan and marks the end of the fasting month. Special morning prayer held at the mosque and visits are made to relatives and friends. Also known as Hari Raya Korban. Hari Raya Haji

This festival commemorates Abrahim's animal sacrifice to God on place of his son , Ismail.
Muslims offer animal sacrifices, usually sheep and cow the fresh of which is distributed to the poor. The anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Medina, Ma'al Hijrah is the effective beginning of Islam as a religion. The New Year in Muslim calendar which also the first day of month of Muharam. The Prophet Mohammed's Birthday the founder of Islam, Prophet Mohammed, is commemorated by the Muslims.

Awal Muharram

Maulud Nabi

It falls on the twelfth day of the month of Rabiulawal .

Is celebrated with special prayers, processions and religious rallies.

Festivals celebrated by the Malays

Hari Raya Puasa

Hari Raya Haji

Awal Muharram

Maulud Nabi

Taboos in Malays
The Malays are well known for their polite manners. Do not sit on the pillow or else you will get sores on your backside

Taboos exist within a community, our perception on certain subjects or words will determine whether some words or doings are considered as taboos.

Do not whistle at night or you will invite the ghost spirit

Donts

Do not sing in the kitchen, or you(woman) will marry an old man

Taboos also known as the DO and the DONT in Malays community which they practice in their daily live.

Do not go out and play at dusk, kidnapped by the bad spirit.

Taboos in Malay wedding

Dont eat rice with gravy or soupy food several months before the big day to avoid the embarrassment of having a distended stomach during the special night of malam pengantin.

Seeing your sweetheart 40 days before the Ijab Kabul to avoid the future newlyweds from imputation of society as well as other bad things. Do not dew or out at night to avoid bad elements. Do and hair cut a week before the consent granted.

Dont take too much seafood as they may contain a lot of toxic which may weaken the body and ruin the wedding.

Avoid going out without a destination wedding by the bride suspected of having an accident if outside.

Prohibited from throwing an eye brow because the act would eliminate the series for the groom's face.

Malay Marriage
The wedding ceremony will be performed according to the Islamic principles with a blend of local Malay customs. Conducted in two parts: The first one is called the akad

nikah

The other one is called the bersanding (enthronement).

(marriage contract)

Stage 1: The Adat Merisik or getting to know you better. During this stage, one or morewakil (representatives) from the mans family will pay a visit to the womans family. The merisik is not considered a formal proposal, and there may or may not be further arrangement of marriage. It all depends on both sides of the family.

Stage 2: The Adat Bertunang or the engagement between lovebirds. When a marriage plan is being agreed by both parties, an engagement date will be set. The engagement custom is usually held at the brides home. The adat bertunang is being done as a symbol that the future groom and bride have already been reserved.

Malay Marriage
Stage 3: The Akad Nikah

Akad nikah is usually conducted at a mosque. Meanwhile, the groom will sign the marriage contract and provide his bride with a mas kahwin (some kind of a payment in the form of money, gold or any
other thing as requested).

Stage 4: The Bersanding ceremony

Bersanding is the actual wedding day whereby the new weds are
sitting on a small decorated stage. It can be celebrated in a traditional way or modern way.

A typical Malay wedding will not be complete without the traditional attire of the bride as well as groom. Depending on the wedding couple, but preferly stylish baju kurung and baju melayu while others may choose to wear something more attention-grabbing such as Baju Kebarung, Baju Minangkabau, and Baju Cik Siti Wan Kembang.

After:

Before:
-stomach massage (melenggang perut)

-a religious man is invited to pray for this blessing (azan and iqamat) - Tahnik -placenta is buried in the ground. -baby laid on a special made bed that covered with seven sarongs. It will be taken away one by one. -confinement for 40 days. -berchukor or shaving head

Malay Birth

Stomach Massage@ Melenggang Perut

-During the seventh month of pregnancy. -This ceremony is performed for the first-time mother. -This stomach massage corrects the babys position in the womb. --the ceremony is replete with the symbolisms of fertility and avoiding danger.

 Azan and qamat- done by the religous man. Parents take care when choosing him as Malays believe that baby will take some of this mans character, therefore he must have a good one.

Tahnik- put some sweet food in the babys mouth such as honey and dates

Placenta is buried with salt, spices, books and pencils. They believe that the baby will be a clever person.

 Confinement for 40 days- special care is taken to restore the new mothers health and beauty For examples : full body massage, therapeutic baths, wrap stomach tightly to shrink the belly and eat jamu.

Giving name seven day after giving birth, the parents will choose good name for their baby. Usually they will choose the name with the good meaning.

Bercukur or shaving head- relatives and friends of the family are invited. There will be a special prayer called berzanji and berzikir which praise God and Prophet Muhammad. They smear some paste made of rice and scented water called tepong tawar on the babys forehead and also rubs some gold on it. Then with a pair of scissors, they cut a piece of hair from the babys head.

Prepared by:
Sheila Christopher
Isna Marshita Asdayanti

TSL 2 (Ambilan Khas)