Islam was popular in Southeast Asia because it, unlike previous belief systems could be used to validate a ruler's power through the divine. Islam spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago slowly and the process was generally peaceful.
Islam is the most widely practised religion in Southeast Asia, numbering approximately 242 million adherents which translate to about 42% of the entire population, with majorities in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia as well Pattani in Thailand and parts of Mindanao in the Philippines respectively.[3] Significant minorities are located in the other Southeast Asian states. Most Muslims in Southeast Asia are Sunni and follow the Shafi`i school of fiqh, or religious law.[4] It is the official religion in Malaysia and Brunei while it is one of the six official faiths in Indonesia.
