Islam in Mozambique
is the religion of approximately four million Mozambicans, or about 17.8% to 20%
of the total population. This figure is disputed by some Muslim clerics, who say
Islam is practiced by a much larger number of people. The vast majority of
Mozambican Muslims are
Sunni, although some
Ismaili Muslims are also registered. The Muslims consists primarily of
indigenous Mozambicans, citizens of
South Asian(Indian
and
Pakistani) descent,and a very small number of
North African and
Middle Eastern immigrants.
Pre-colonial
history
Mozambique has historic ties with the
Muslim world, mostly by way of coastal trading cities, which served as the
most southern part of the
Indian Ocean trade. The former port city of
Sofala, once famous for its trade in gold (by way of
Great Zimbabwe) with the Islamic
Middle East and
India, was one such center of cultural exchange. It is believed that nearly
all of the cities' inhabitants were Muslim before the arrival of the
Portuguese in 1505.[1].
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.
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 Liberation 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 - even in the capital city center. Muslims have also made their way into
parliament. Several
South African,
Kuwaiti 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 the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Prominent
Mozambican Muslims
-
Amade Camal, MP from Nampula Province
-
Shaykh Aminuddin
Mohamad, head of the Islamic Council
Source :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Mozambique
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