Islam in Mozambique
Encyclopedia
Islam in Mozambique is the religion of approximately four million Mozambicans, or about 17.9% of the total population. The vast majority of Mozambican
Muslims are Sunni, although some Ismaili
Shiite Muslims are also registered. The Muslims consists primarily of indigenous Mozambicans, citizens of South Asian (India
n and Pakistan
i) descent,and a very small number of North Africa
n and Middle East
ern immigrants.
, mostly by way of coastal slave trading cities, which served as the most southern part of the Indian Ocean
slave trade. Since the founding of the Kilwa Sultanate
in the 10th century by Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi, Islam
had become a major religion in the region. The former port city of Sofala
, became famous for its trade in slaves, ivory, gold (by way of Great Zimbabwe
) and Iron with the Islamic Middle East
and India
, was one of the most important trading centers on the Mozambique coast. It is believed that nearly all of the cities' inhabitants were Muslim before the arrival of the Portuguese
in 1505.http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Sofala. Sofala and much of the rest of coastal Mozambique was part of the Kilwa Sultanate
from Arab arrival (believed to be the 12th century) until its conquest in the 16th century.
The arrival of the Arab slave trade
in Mozambique dates to the fourth Hijri century when Muslims established emirates on the coast of East Africa
. During that period Muslim slave merchants extended their human trafficking business south along the coast during the period of the Omani dynasty Al Bu Said.
did the state lower its opposition to Islam and try to coopt the religion, in order to avoid an alliance between Muslims and the dissident liberation movement.
n, Kuwait
i and other Muslim agencies are active in Mozambique, with one important one being the African Muslim Agency
. An Islamic University has been set up in Nampula
, with a branch in Inhambane
. Mozambique is also an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
Muslims are Sunni, although some Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Shiite Muslims are also registered. The Muslims consists primarily of indigenous Mozambicans, citizens of South Asian (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i) descent,and a very small number of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
n and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern immigrants.
Pre-colonial history
Mozambique has historic ties with the Muslim worldMuslim world
The term Muslim world has several meanings. In a religious sense, it refers to those who adhere to the teachings of Islam, referred to as Muslims. In a cultural sense, it refers to Islamic civilization, inclusive of non-Muslims living in that civilization...
, mostly by way of coastal slave trading cities, which served as the most southern part of the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
slave trade. Since the founding of the Kilwa Sultanate
Kilwa Sultanate
The Kilwa Sultanate was a Medieval sultanate, centered at Kilwa , whose authority, at its height, stretched over the entire length of the Swahili Coast. It was founded in the 10th century by Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi...
in the 10th century by Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
had become a major religion in the region. The former port city of Sofala
Sofala
Sofala, at present known as Nova Sofala, used to be the chief seaport of the Monomotapa Kingdom, whose capital was at Mount Fura. It is located on the Sofala Bank in Sofala Province of Mozambique.-History:...
, became famous for its trade in slaves, ivory, gold (by way of Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which existed from 1100 to 1450 C.E. during the country’s Late Iron Age. The monument, which first began to be constructed in the 11th century and which continued to be built until the 14th century, spanned an...
) and Iron with the Islamic Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, was one of the most important trading centers on the Mozambique coast. It is believed that nearly all of the cities' inhabitants were Muslim before the arrival of the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1505.http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Sofala. Sofala and much of the rest of coastal Mozambique was part of the Kilwa Sultanate
Kilwa Sultanate
The Kilwa Sultanate was a Medieval sultanate, centered at Kilwa , whose authority, at its height, stretched over the entire length of the Swahili Coast. It was founded in the 10th century by Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi...
from Arab arrival (believed to be the 12th century) until its conquest in the 16th century.
The arrival of the Arab slave trade
Arab slave trade
The Arab slave trade was the practice of slavery in the Arab World, mainly Western Asia, North Africa, East Africa and certain parts of Europe during their period of domination by Arab leaders. The trade was focused on the slave markets of the Middle East and North Africa...
in Mozambique dates to the fourth Hijri century when Muslims established emirates on the coast of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. During that period Muslim slave merchants extended their human trafficking business south along the coast during the period of the Omani dynasty Al Bu Said.
Colonial history
Islam faced serious challenges in Mozambique during the colonial era. During the Estado Novo period (1926–1974), Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion following a formal alliance (Concordat) between the Church and the government. Only with the start of the War of LiberationPortuguese Colonial War
The Portuguese Colonial War , also known in Portugal as the Overseas War or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974, when the Portuguese regime was...
did the state lower its opposition to Islam and try to coopt the religion, in order to avoid an alliance between Muslims and the dissident liberation movement.
Modern Mozambique
Since the end of the socialist period (1989 onwards), Muslims have been able to proselytise freely and build new mosques. Muslims have also made their way into parliament. Several South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i and other Muslim agencies are active in Mozambique, with one important one being the African Muslim Agency
African Muslim Agency
The Africa Muslims Agency is an humanitarian, development and Dawah organization based in Kuwait with offices across Africa. The agency has established itself in much of Africa, including Sierra Leone, Mali, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Angola, the Gambia and particularly South Africa...
. An Islamic University has been set up in Nampula
Nampula
Nampula is the capital city of Nampula Province in Mozambique.It has a population of 471,717 making it the third largest city in Mozambique after Maputo and Beira. It is home to the Mozambique National Ethnographic Museum, several markets, cathedrals and mosques.It is also the center of business...
, with a branch in Inhambane
Inhambane
Inhambane, Terra de Boa Gente is a city located in southern Mozambique, lying on Inhambane Bay, 470 km northeast of Maputo. It is the capital of the Inhambane Province and according to the 2008 census has a population of 65,837, growing from the 1997 census of 54,157...
. Mozambique is also an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Prominent Mozambican Muslims
- Amade CamalAmade CamalAmade Camal is a Mozambican politician and Muslim activist. He has been a member of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique since 1994 from Nampula Province.-Source:*...
, MP from Nampula Province - Shaykh Aminuddin Mohamad, head of the Islamic Council