I know it is not a mystery but

[Code_Red]

Re: I know it is not a mystery but

@psyah

Peace Code_Red

Yes. The primary interaction of Muslims were from trade ships. Different nations have different natures and the people of that region are naturally kind and mellow spirited. They would look to those who they ‘warmed’ to and become like them, give their daughters to them to marry and hence have families from Muslims. Many Shaykhs have come from that region and who settled in that region. They are not a very arrogant or stuborn nation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_spread_of_Islam_in_Indonesia

Perhaps the biggest factor of the conversion in my understanding is that the Indonesian Muslims view their Indonesian Animist and Indonesian Buddhists and Indonesian Hindus as brother and sister. They live with them work with them and share their community festivities with them. By integrating the strong message of Islam is as you say infectious.

In the areas where Islam did not spread so quickly the people would create sides and the enemies of Islam would be present to create war like them and you situations. The community spirit and integration was never allowed to form. Since the people of the Archipelago did not have this ‘fitna’ or preformed premeditated ideas about Muslims they saw Islam for what it is. I would say that Islam would have spread just as quickly in other regions if there were not those evil people who created the segregation and enmity.

The primary reason is understandable but gaining whooping majority is beyond comprehension.
I am not saying that, in your link it is repeatidly stated that there is something missing.

Despite being one of the most significant developments in Indonesian history, historical evidence is fragmentary and generally uninformative such that understandings of the coming of Islam to Indonesia are limited; there is considerable debate amongst scholars about what conclusions can be drawn about the conversion of Indonesian peoples

If it was 30% , 40% or even 50% then we can understand as we have similar model in history. And we can applaud and give credit to preachers and muslim trader and all noble visitors.

Indonesia is not only the biggest muslim country, it is also 4th largest populated country in the world.

I totally disagree with post #6.

Mr Zarvan

Indonesia has a rich culture and their own traditions. They accepted this new religion (for them it was new) on their own free will. And they project most beautiful image of thier religion to world. The society is most peaceful, kind and observing muslim society on the face of earth.

There was never a single king or ruler who could goven and rule 17 thousand islands in that region. Your idea is only bit plausible for a tiny state of Brunai Darussalam. but you can not say that for indonessia because

indonessia consist of 17,000 islands
Brunai is a tiny part of land surrounded by malaysia on a single island

Population of Indonesia = 230 million
Population of Brunai Darussalam = 0.38 million

Both countries are muslim countries in the same region. The theory of influence and following is aplicable on one of them only.