Made by: Brandon Upchurch, Ted Villanyi, and Danielle Webb
History
Before Islam was practiced in Africa, Christianity was the state religion. The religion was going through an evolution towards orthodoxy when people of the new Arab empire decided they wanted to start their own religion. Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik is the one who left an idea of the new religion behind for other people through the inscriptions of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in 691. He called the religion “Islam” and believed this religion held much superiority over Christianity.
After the religion was established in Africa, orthodoxy had to be created associated to Islam as well. As this was occurring, two sides to the religion were emerging. Either they rejected the authority of caliphs and scholars altogether and made the fulfillment of all laws and duties obligatory on Muslims as individuals (Kharijis) or they disapproved of the caliphal retreat from law and thought of it as a betrayal. The second position was taken up by the Shi’ites.
The first Shi’ite dynasty in the history of Africa was founded in the first Arab dynasty in the Maghreb, which is the region of Africa north of the Sahara and west of the Nile.
The remaining Christian population ended up surrendering to the Arabs in Africa around 711, making Islam the main religion practiced in most countries there. The Kharijis also began to separate from the Shi’ites into a couple of small mountain and oasis states. They maintained permanent residences and made mosques in the northern market towns of Africa and ended up being the first group to bring Islam to western Africa.
Islam in Africa Today
Islam is still a very influential religion today in Africa, particularly in Northern Africa. Its existence is evident in Africa and below are some issues and news regarding Islam in Africa today.
Islam in Africa today is not the same as Islam practiced in other parts of the world; it is practiced in a unique African way. It first distinguished itself by translating the Quran into many African languages, including Hausa, Kiswahili, and Wolof. Not only was it just translated, but the place of women was also modified. Islam in African can even further be characterized by the different sub-regions in Africa that practice Islam, particularly in the way each regions worships Allah.
In Africa today, there is much evidence of Islam still growing in Africa. Recently, there has been mosques, Islamic attires and writings, Islamic bookshops, Islamic schools and universities, and Islamic health centers and hospitals now seen everywhere and are continuing to be built. These projects have been occurring partly due to the fact that leaders in Africa practice Islam.
Islam views is also influencing the banking world in Africa today. Africa is on track to becoming the leading Islamic baking continent in the world. This has to do with the large amount of African Muslims, 400 million, and the fact that Africa has a very large population of people that do not belong to a bank. That being said it is a great opportunity to encourage people to practice the Islamic banking which includes being consistent with the principles of Sharia. One advocator of building more banks in Africa is Donald
Country of the Week: MOZAMBIQUE!
References:
Pouwels, R L, & Levtzion, N. (2001). History of Islam in Africa. Ohio University Press. http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.butler.edu/lib/butler/docDetail.action?docID=10606571
Maqsood, R. W. (2008). Need to know? islam. HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com.ezproxy.butler.edu/entry.do?id=9178137
Von Sicard, S. S. (2008). Islam in Mozambique: Some Historical and Cultural Perspectives. Journal Of Muslim Minority Affairs, 28(3), 473-490. doi:10.1080/13602000802548201