Islam and Malay culture Whether the first ruler of Malacca, Parameswara, converted to Islam is unknown as there is no evidence to suggest that he had. The 16th-century Portuguese writer Tomé Pires explicitly mentioned that Parameswara was succeeded by his son, Megat Iskandar Shah who only converted to Islam at age 72. On the other hand, the Malay Annals noted that it was during the reign of the third ruler Muhammad Shah (), that the ruling class and their subjects began accepting Islam. While there are differing views on when the Islamization of Malacca actually took place, it is generally agreed that Islam was firmly established during the reign of Muzaffar Shah ().
Islam And malAY culTUrE wHetheR tHe firSt rUleR Of malACcA, pARamEswArA, conVerTed To isLam is unknoWn as There iS no eviDenCE to SuggEST ThaT he HAd. THe 16th-centUrY PorTUGuese Writer toMé pirEs expLICiTLy mentioned tHat ParaMEsWara was SUccEeded by hiS sOn, megAt iskaNdar shAh who oNly conveRTeD TO islAm AT AgE 72. On THe oTHer hand, the MalAy AnnalS nOted that it WAs duRing THE rEigN of tHe thiRd ruLEr muhammad shah (), thAt the RUlIng ClaSs and tHEIr SUBjects bEGAn accepTing IslaM. WHile therE are DiffERINg vieWs on wHEn the IslaMizaTiON of mAlacca actually TOok placE, it iS genErallY AGreED that islaM was firMLY EstabLisHed DURing The reIgN Of mUzafFar shAh ().