Exploring Theological Elements In Contemporary Malay Rap: A Case Study Of Malique's Pejamkan Mata
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/idealogy.v10i2.868Abstract
This paper investigates the theological dimensions embedded within the lyrics of Malique's Pejamkan Mata, a contemporary Malay rap song. Integrating Islamic theology and literary analysis, the study examines how theological motifs reflect spiritual ontologies, epistemological sources, moral frameworks, and metaphysical objectives. Utilizing textual and thematic analysis, the paper uncovers how Malique crafts a nuanced theological narrative that critiques societal systems, affirms divine attributes, and inspires spiritual reflection through his lyrics. The results reveal that the song draws upon key Islamic values such as tawhid (divine unity), khalifah (vicegerency), Maqasid al-Shariah (objectives of Islamic law), and the Asma’ul Husna (beautiful names of Allah) that emerge through the theological concepts of ontological assumptions, epistemology, ethics, anthropology, teleology and normativity. These theological concepts serve to position the listener in a reflective engagement with spiritual realities, moral critique of power, and calls for individual and collective transformation. The study demonstrates how Pejamkan Mata, despite being situated in a secular cultural domain, can function as a powerful medium of spiritual communication and da’wah, particularly among younger and culturally attuned Muslim audiences especially in Malaysia’s context.
Keywords: Islamic epistemology, Malay rap religious discourse, theological concepts
References
Al-Attas, S. M. N. (1995). Prolegomena to the metaphysics of Islam: An exposition of the fundamental elements of the worldview of Islam. ISTAC.
Al-Faruqi, I. R. (1992). Al-Tawhid: Its implications for thought and life. The International Institute of Islamic Thought.
Asad, M. (2003). The message of the Qur’an: Translation and commentary (M. S. Qureshi, Ed.). Dar Al-Andalus.
Baloch, B. A., & Chimenya, A. (2023). Ethical dimensions of Islamic finance and their relevance in contemporary business practices. International Journal of Islamic Banking and Finance Research, 11(2), 32–39.
Eagleton, T. (1996). Literary theory: An introduction (2nd ed.). University of Minnesota Press.
Fairclough, N. (1992). Discourse and text: Linguistic and intertextual analysis within discourse analysis. Discourse & Society, 3(2), 193–217.
Fuadi, M. A., Mahbub, M., Ali, N. H., Safitry, M., & Dewi, I. A. K. (2023). Integration between Islamic revelation and local culture: A study of theology and the indigenisation of Islam in Indonesia. Pharos Journal of Theology.
Hanif, I. M. A. (2023). Bridging centuries: The relevance of Al-Mawardi’s 100 thoughts in addressing today’s global challenges. Journal of Creative Writing (ISSN-2410-6259).
Irama, R. (2011). Music as a medium for communication, unity, education, and dakwah. In A. Weintraub (Ed.), Islam and popular culture in Indonesia and Malaysia (pp. 185–192). Routledge. (Translated by Andrew Weintraub).
Ishaq, U., & Daud, W. (2017). Ibn Al-Haytham’s classification of knowledge. Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 55, 189–210.
Izutsu, T. (2002). Ethico-religious concepts in the Qur’an: A linguistic study of the fundamental ideas of the Qur’an. McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Karataşlı, Ş. S., & Clark, D. (2024). Ibn Khaldun’s labor theory of value and the question of race. Journal of World-Systems Research.
Kamaludeen, M. N. (2015). The September 11 generation, hip-hop and human rights. Journal of Sociology, 51(4), 1039–1051.
Kamaludeen, M. N. (2018). Hip-hop Islam: Commodification, cooptation and confrontation in Southeast Asia. Journal of Religious and Political Practice, 4(3), 352–367.
Mat Said, N. H. I., & Sulaiman, M. (2021). Kepentingan program realiti televisyen Islam sebagai mekanisma dakwah kontemporari di Malaysia: The importance of Islamic reality television programmes as a mechanism of contemporary da’wah in Malaysia. Jurnal Pengajian Islam, Special Edition No. 1/2021, 21–35.
Nasikhin, N., Ismutik, I., & Albab, U. (2022). Philosophy of Islamic science in Al-Farabi’s perspective. RUSYDIAH: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam.
Nasr, S. H. (1987). Traditional Islam in the modern world. Kazi Publications.
Ngwena, P. D. (2024). African Pentecostalism and ecological spirituality: Liturgy and supplication from a pneumatology perspective. Pharos Journal of Theology.
Nisar, M., & Benedict, S. M. (2024). Exploring gender equality: A comparative study of contemporary feminism, Islamic perspectives, and feminism in Sufism. Philosophy International Journal, 7(2), 1–7.
Noor, N. M. (2022, January 11). Rima rap mesej berpengaruh. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/67650799/Rima_rap_mesej_berpengaruh
Raja Mhd Shahnuddin, S. Z., & Yunus, A. W. (2023). Penulisan lirik lagu Malique: Satu analisis retorik moden. E-Jurnal Bahasa dan Linguistik (e-JBL), 5(1), 15–25.
Rasit, R. M., Hassan, M. S., Osman, M. N., & Shahkat Ali, M. S. (2011). Film as a medium of communication for da'wah: Analysis of religious elements in selected Malay films. Islamiyyat: The International Journal of Islamic Studies, 33, 67–76.
Saefullah, M., & Wirajaya, A. Y. (2024). Tawhid, worship, and noble morals in the Hikayat Nabi Isa. Buletin Al-Turas.
Sanawiah, M. T. R., Ariyadi, N., Aseri, A. F., Jalaluddin, K. A., & Al Amruzi, M. F. (2023). Law politics of people's mining based on Maqashid Syariah's welfare and social justice viewpoint. Rechtidee Law Journal, 11(3S).
Shannahan, D. S., & Hussain, Q. (2011). Rap on ‘L’avenue’: Islam, aesthetics, authenticity and masculinities in the Tunisian rap scene. Contemporary Islam, 5(1).
Shuaib, A. (2017). The search for the middle path: Islam and the traditional Malay performing arts. Academia.edu.
Umar, S., Gokaru, ., Abdullah, F. @ M., Faisal, A., Hamid, A., Bensala, Y., Abdullah, P. D. .-. M., -Faisal, ., Assoc, ., Gokaru, S. U., & Language, . (2024). Language and its philosophy in the views of Al-Farabi: A discussion in the light of the Quran. International Journal of Islamic Thought.
Widyastuti, W., Lubis, M., & Sabri, R. (2023). The concept of education according to Ibn Khaldun. Almufida: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 UiTM Press

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
UiTM Press (the Publisher) has agreed to publish the undersigned author’s paper in Idealogy Journal. The agreement is contingent upon the fulfilment of a number of requirements listed below.
1. The undersigned author warrants that the paper entitled below is original, that it is not in any way libellous or unlawful in Malaysia, that it does not infringe any copyright or other proprietary right. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that he/she is the author of the paper, except for material that is clearly identified as to its original source, with permission notices from the copyright owners where required. The undersigned represents that he/she has the power and authority to sign and execute this agreement.
2. The undersigned author warrants that the paper entitled below has not been published elsewhere, and also it will not be submitted anywhere else for publication prior to acceptance/rejection by this Journal.
3. By submitting the paper entitled below, the undersigned author agrees to transfer the rights to publish and distribute the paper in an international e-journal (entitled above) to Publisher.
4. The undersigned author agrees to make a reasonable effort to conform to Publisher's submission guidelines and to liaise with the editor to ensure that the requirements of these guidelines are met to a reasonable degree.
5. The corresponding author signs for and accepts responsibility for releasing this material on behalf of any and all coauthors. This agreement is to be signed by at least one of the authors who has obtained the assent of the co-author(s) where applicable. After submission of this agreement signed by the corresponding author, changes of authorship or in the order of the authors listed will not be accepted.