The perception of muslim converts on the usefulness and adequacy of information sources about Islam : a case study of Malaysia

Abstract

Difficulties in identifying basic and fundamental Islamic information sources is a common issue amongst Muslim Converts in Malaysia. Inundated with the proliferation of information sources, Converts are unsure of the suitability or relevance of such sources and thus they experience challenges when learning and practicing Islam. Understanding Converts perception of such sources is vital in the provision of efficient information services for Muslim Converts. This case study on the perception of Muslim Converts in Malaysia on the usefulness and adequacy of information sources about Islam involved eighteen respondents consisting of fourteen Converts and four information providers. Latent and manifest data were retrieved from semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and text-content of documents. Using qualitative content analyses, data was coded manually as well as with NVivo software as the Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS). Perception of Muslim Converts were examined against the incorporation of elements of human information behaviour adapted from Wilson’s Information Behaviour Models and also examined specifically from the perspective of categories of cognitive, affective, physiological and spiritual information needs. Information sources provided and consulted were found to contain elements of the information needed with varied use and adequacy. A specific need in one category have had an effect on one or more of another need category . Themes of who, what, how, why, and where of Islamic information sources were the issues that Muslim Converts were challenged with. Although some Muslim Converts are from different demographic background, there exist some common shared perceptions about the information available or need to be made available. While information sources of different types, formats, printed or published were perceived to have different impacts on Converts, people or organisations as information sources also had differentiating effects specifically as a result of their varied approaches in guidance, teaching and training. In conclusion, information sources whether written, verbal or in digital formats have their roles according to the choices and preferences of Muslim Converts by supplementing and complementing one another. The findings found that there exist different levels of gaps in availability, usefulness and adequacy of information sources about Islam for Muslim Converts in Malaysia.