Islam and muslim politics in africa pdf

Islam and muslim politics in africa paperback november 7, 2007 by b. Political islam in west africa and the sahel pdf spread of islam in west africa muslims in eastern africa. Tanzanian muslims are just as likely as their non muslims compatriots to reject authoritarian alternatives, in part because they think they have derived little benefit from such arrangements in the past. Indeed, since the early 1990s, economic and political reform and liberalization, the weakening of the state or even in some cases its collapse, and increased global interconnections have all had dramatic impacts. West, and i will try to make all articles available in electronic form, via pdf or library. Mauritania is a country in africa, bordering algeria, mali, senegal, and the western sahara currently controlled by morocco. Events since september 11, 2001 have dramatically altered the political environment in the muslim world, a vast and diverse region comprising the band of countries with significant muslim populations that stretches from western africa to the southern philippines, as well as muslim communities and diasporas scattered throughout the world. Muslims in east and west africa predate the drawing of modern state boundaries and as a result are seen as a threat to african governments hold on power. Although muslims lost political power, muslim communities made rapid inroads in the west africa during the early 20th century. Relations between muslims and christians in the middle east have been affected historically by territorial ambitions, competition over particular sites important to both religions, and constantly changing developments in the regions politics. The metamorphosis of the egyptian muslim brothers, international journal of middle east studies 37, 2. According to historians and religious sources, islam penetrated ethiopia when prophet mohammed was alive.

The politics of islam in africa uf center for african studies. Though estimates vary, it is generally believed that approximately 10 percent of the countrys population identify as muslim. The oxford handbook of islam and politics offers a geographically comprehensive, indepth analysis of the interaction of islam and politics in the post911 era, in an increasingly globalizing world, and in an arab world transitioning to democracy. However, there is a significant shia minority, primarily in kaduna, kano, katsina, osun, ilorin and sokoto states see. The relationship between the state and islam differs significantly across western africa, in part because of variations in the complex interaction between islam and ethnic politics.

These political stirrings resulted in the creation of political organisations, such as the majisiahrari islam mai, khaksars, mahasabha, unionist party and akali dal. Moroccos islamic diplomacy in west africa volume 11 issue 1 ann marie wainscott skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Africa was the first continent, outside of arabia that islam spread into in the early 7th century. Over time, however, islam played a growing role in west african society.

Islamic politics topics having to do with caring for the best interests of the ummah and running its affairs, whether in terms of internal matters or its relationships with other nations, in accordance with the objectives of sharia maqaasid ashshareeah. Islam and politics in africa uf center for african studies. The role of islam in west african politics goes back to the beginnings of the encounter between islamic culture and traditional african political leadership in the. Until the mid20th century, it remained largely confined to the coast and closely bound up with the history of the swahili towns situated on it.

In particular, international attention has been drawn to the application of sharia law to criminal offences and the. The steady growth of islam in zimbabwe the african exponent. The conflict between western world and islam 5 though both countries are islamic and adopted islamic semantic, they do not make islamic politics as they did not cooperate. Muslim urban intelligentsia in the punjab was getting increasingly.

Islam and muslim politics in africa pdf free download epdf. Introduction the history of islam in east africa is extremely significant in elucidating the modern place of islam. Muslims crossed current djibouti and eritrea to seek refuge in current ethiopia during the hijarat. The three stages of containment, mixing, and reform can shed light on the historical developments of islam in this region. Almost onethird of the worlds muslim population resides in. Ethiopian muslims and the discourse about moderation the. This has been brought to light by sheik anubi twabi, administrator at africa muslim agency in harare. Islam in africa has its roots in the origins of the faith, as ethiopia was a refuge for muslims who fled arabia during the time of islam s prophet muhammad b. Islam and muslim politics in africa during the decade and a half since the end of the cold war, africa has seen momentous changes. Islam and muslim politics in africa this page intentionally left blank islam and muslim politics in africaedited. See all 9 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The european crusaders capture jerusalem from the muslims. Furthermore the availability of educational scholarships to foreign islam, adhering countries has.

Muslims in nigeria are predominantly sunnis of the maliki school of thought. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. Ethwpian islam is interesting both because of its antiquity since the inceptwn of islam itself and because of the particular patterns of interaction and. Almost onethird of the worlds muslim population resides in this continent. Secularism, religion, and radicalism, a welldocumented scholarly article by sean l. The transsaharan trade was an important gateway for the spread of islam in africa.

Officially, 100% of the countrys citizens are muslim, although there is a small community of christians, mainly of foreign nationality. Introduction history of islam in nigeria jihad islamic law sharia islam and politics islamic movements, islamic reform selected web resources there has been considerable recent media coverage of the implementation of islamic sharia law in the northern states of nigeria. Political liberalization and economic reform, the weakening of the state, and increased global interconnections have all had profound effects on muslim societies and the practice of islam in africa. However, islam in this large region has diverse and different histories.

Yet, this current somali conflict is different from all past somali conflicts in the. The cia estimates over 50% of the population is muslim while the bbc estimated in 2007 that slightly over 50% of the population is muslim. Oxford handbook of islam and politics oxford handbooks. Traders bring islam to ghana between the years 639 and 708 c. Public religion, democracy, and islam, comparative politics 44, 2. Guest speakers will discuss new dynamics within islam in africa, how muslim groups organize themselves, how they relate to the state, each other and the broader society, the political. But the question is how far this law can be transformed into legislation for running a political government. Nigeria has the largest muslim population in west africa. The people of mauritania are nearly all adherents of sunni islam of maliki school of jurisprudence, influenced with sufism. Muslim renewal and western understanding the difficult encounter between the muslim world and the west at the level of security policy, diplomacy, and politics is complicated by cultural and ideological tension, and a degree of intellectual incomprehension. On top of that, many other issues get involved in it.

The contributors to this collection explore the intersecting dynamics of islam, society, and the state in subsaharan africa. Spread of islam in africa javad haghnavaz department of islamic thoughts faculty, jolfa branch, islamic azad university, jolfa, iran abstract. It addresses significant questions and issues such as. The social and political processes of secularization, which were thought to supplant religion and its influence, have. Somalia at war between radical islam and tribal politics. Malaysian traders interact with muslims who teach them about islam. Saudi arabia muslim world muslim society political liberalization muslim identity. Islam in africa african studies oxford bibliographies. Islam and democracy in east africa jeffrey haynes a a department of law. Role of islam in politics many across the predominantly muslim countries surveyed want islam to have a major influence in politics. At first, muslim traders and merchants lived side by side with the non muslims of west africa. Algeria 32 million muslims 99% of population chad 8.

Most in pakistan, jordan and egypt believe their laws should strictly follow the quran, while majorities or pluralities in tunisia and turkey say their laws should at least adhere to the values and principles of islam. The contributors to this volume investigate and illuminate the changes that have occurred in africa, through detailed case studies. Such processes have also influenced muslim societies and the practice of islam in africa in ways that are still not well understood. Soares during the decade and a half since the end of the cold war, africa has seen momentous changes. The histom1 ofls1am il1 africa ohio university press. The history of islam in east africa stretches back to around ce. Historically, islam is also at a crossroads, destined to play a world role in politics and to become the most prominent world religion during the 21st century.

On the other hand, in east africa, where islam came from the arabian peninsula, muslims followed the shafli school of law that prevailed in. There are many muslims who feel that islam has much to say about the role of ethics and values in the public sphere. Islam in political context amit pandya introduction. Given the paucity of research on islam in contemporary sub. Christian muslim relations in ghana from 1920 through the present.

Islam in the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. East african muslims are mostly shafiites and some. Islam is thus not contained in any national culture. For instance, if a muslim country has a right to dictate its law. Impacts of islam in east africa case study template. Africa, we have also seen a resurgence of islamic political movements. Africa because of its resemblance on the map to a rhinoceross horn. The swahili language remains central to many east african muslims, hence the occasionally heard phrase, swahili islam. The political engagement of a west african muslim community. Eventually muslims regain control of what they view as their holy land.

Political aspects of islam are derived from the quran, the sunnah the sayings and living habits of muhammad, muslim history, and elements of political movements outside islam traditional political concepts in islam include leadership by elected or selected successors to the prophet known as caliphs, imamate for shia. Islam 19 th e coming of islam 19 islam versus colonialism 20 th e present appeal of islam 21 islam and civil wars in west africa 23 christianity 2525 christianity and colonialism 25 africanisation of christianity 3030 christianity, armed con. Nowadays the application of the islamic law sharia identifies a state that is islamic. Islam is a minority religion within the democratic republic of the congo where the large majority is affiliated to various christian denominations and sects.