KETAHANAN MINORITAS MUSLIM DI JANTUNG KOMUNISME : SEJARAH DAN KONTRIBUSI UMAT ISLAM DI LAOS

Abstrak

Penelitian ini membahas sejarah masuknya Islam di Laos serta kontribusi masyarakat Muslim sebagai kelompok minoritas dalam kehidupan sosial, ekonomi, dan budaya di negara yang menganut ideologi komunis tersebut. Islam masuk ke Laos melalui jalur perdagangan damai sejak abad ke-18, dibawa oleh pedagang Tamil, Muslim dari India, serta komunitas Chin Haw dari Tiongkok dan Cham dari Kamboja. Meskipun jumlahnya kecil—diperkirakan hanya beberapa ribu jiwa—komunitas Muslim Laos mampu mempertahankan identitas keagamaannya di tengah dominasi mayoritas Buddha Theravada. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode studi kepustakaan (library research) dengan pendekatan kualitatif, melalui analisis terhadap berbagai literatur, buku sejarah peradaban Islam, serta jurnal nasional dan internasional terkait perkembangan Islam di Laos. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa masyarakat Muslim Laos memainkan peran penting dalam sektor perdagangan, pendidikan, dan sosial kemasyarakatan. Mereka juga menjalin hubungan lintas batas dengan komunitas Muslim di Thailand dan Asia Selatan. Walaupun menghadapi berbagai keterbatasan akibat kebijakan politik dan sosial negara komunis, komunitas Muslim Laos menunjukkan ketahanan dan adaptasi tinggi dalam mempertahankan praktik keagamaan, membangun masjid, serta mengembangkan pendidikan Islam sederhana. Keberadaan mereka mencerminkan nilai-nilai toleransi dan keberagaman dalam konteks masyarakat Laos modern.

This study explores the history of Islam in Laos and the contributions of the Muslim community as a minority group within the country’s social, economic, and cultural life under a communist government. Islam was introduced to Laos peacefully through trade routes in the 18th century by Tamil merchants, Indian Muslims, as well as the Chin Haw community from China and the Cham people from Cambodia. Although the Muslim population in Laos is relatively small— estimated at only a few thousand individuals—they have successfully maintained their religious identity amidst the Buddhist Theravada majority. This research employs a library research method with a qualitative approach, analyzing various historical and contemporary sources, including books on Islamic civilization and national and international journals concerning the development of Islam in Laos. The findings reveal that the Muslim community in Laos plays a vital role in trade, education, and social life. They also maintain cross-border relations with Muslim communities in Thailand and South Asia. Despite facing limitations under political and social constraints in a communist regime, Lao Muslims have demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability by preserving Islamic practices, establishing mosques, and developing modest Islamic educational institutions. Their presence reflects the values of tolerance and diversity within modern Lao society.