Islam's journey east
How Islam reached the Malay Archipelago and Sabah.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
A two-storey museum opened in 2002 close to the Sabah Museum, telling how Islam reached Southeast Asia and spread through the Malay Archipelago, then into Malaysia and Sabah. It is one of the few museums in the region devoted entirely to Islamic civilisation, and worth a visit for anyone interested in the history of Islam in lands so far from where it began. The Sabah museums department lists five galleries: Islam in the Malay Archipelago, Islam in Malaysia, Islam in Sabah, a gallery on the life of the Prophet, and one on Islamic teachings. It shows old Islamic pieces brought from Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Morocco and India, and a section of Islamic antiques from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. Entry is about fifteen ringgit for non-Malaysians; some sources say the Sabah Museum ticket covers it too, so ask at the counter before paying. It opens roughly from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. An hour or so is enough, best combined with the nearby Sabah Museum and State Mosque in one outing. The museum is quiet and air-conditioned, a comfortable refuge from the midday heat.
How Islam reached the Malay Archipelago and Sabah.
Objects from Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Morocco and India.
Islamic antiques from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
Jalan Menteri, near the Sabah Museum complex
Yes if you enjoy history: it explains how Islam reached these islands through trade and preachers, a story rarely told. Anyone expecting grand collections may find it small.
