Balik-Islam in Mindanao : the transformation of religious identity among the reverts in Southern Philippines

Abstract

This thesis examines the Balik-Islam experience in Mindanao, emphasizing that it is not just a one-time transformative event but an ongoing process of identity formation through multiple stages over time. It addresses the lack of understanding of post-conversion experiences among the Balik-Islam reverts outside BARMM and the scholarly neglect of identity development processes among Muslim reverts in Mindanao. Using a qualitative lifestudy approach, this research draws on the experiences of fifteen Muslim reverts living outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), specifically in areas such as Davao City, General Santos, and Sarangani. The study aims to explore how BalikIslam reverts construct and negotiate their religious identity in non-BARMM areas amid sociocultural and institutional challenges. I introduce the concept of "liminal religiosity" to describe the spiritual and social state of these reverts, who exist in a limbo due to historical marginalization, sociocultural ambivalence, and institutional neglect. In Mindanao, Islam functions as a form of historical memory. Balik-Islam reverts face double marginality—they are distanced from their Christian family backgrounds and excluded from ethnolinguistic communities of born Muslims, where ethnic identity often influences religious legitimacy. The subsequent discussion and analysis draw on Rambo's idea of the "consequences" of conversion and Turner's concept of liminality to illustrate how they maintain and develop their faith amid suspicion, bureaucratic invisibility, and legacies of conflict, especially after the Marawi Siege in 2017, which created new memories of distrust as part of Muslim identity reformations. Despite these challenges, Balik-Islam participants demonstrate remarkable resilience and agency. They navigate their uncertain sense of belonging related to their contested religious identity through informal social networks of fellow believers, grassroots religious learning methods, and personal spiritual practices. This research, based on in-depth interviews with the Balik-Islam individuals outside the Bangsamoro region, shows that adopting a Balik-Islam identity is more than just a return to Islamic roots; it involves moving across places of fluid faith and belonging, layered with engagement and exclusion. The study provides original empirical insights into Philippine Islamic studies and global frameworks of conversion. It highlights the need for future research on how institutions approach and support conversion to Islam in their long-term efforts for integration and participation within Muslim communities. It also explores how emerging expressions of religious belonging influence the ability of BalikIslam individuals to gain recognition within those communities.