Islam in South Africa
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Islam in South Africa predates the colonial period, and consisted of isolated contact with Arab and East African traders. Many South African Muslims are described as Coloureds, notably in the Western Cape, including those whose ancestors came as slaves from the Indonesian archipelago (the Cape Malays). Others are described as Indians, notably in Kwazulu-Natal, including those whose ancestors came as traders from South Asia; they have been joined by others from other parts of Africa as well as white or black South African converts. However, the current Muslim tradition in the country dates from the arrival of Sheikh Abdurahman Matebe Shah, a Malay sheikh from Sumatra, in 1668.[1][2]
It is estimated that Islam is the largest religion of conversion in South Africa.[3]
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[edit] History
Sheikh Abdurahman Matebe Shah was exiled to Constantia, Cape Town in the Cape by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) following his resistance to the Dutch occupation of the East Indies. The sheikh used his exile to consolidate the teaching of Islam among slaves in the Cape, many of whom came from Muslim backgrounds in Malaysia and Bengal.[1]
[edit] The VOC period
During the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century the Dutch continued to exile Muslim leaders from Batavia to the Cape: they included Sheikh Yusuf of Bantam, who lived at Faure in Cape Town. Probably the first imam to live in Cape Town was Said Alochie of Mocha in Yemen, who was sentenced to work on Robben Island for ten years in 1747.[citation needed] Said Alochie later moved to Cape Town where he worked as a police constable - an occupation which gave him ample opportunities for visiting slave quarters at night to teach. In 1767 Prince Abdullah Kadi Abu Salaam of Tidore was exiled to the Cape. He wrote a copy of the Quran from memory, and the volume is still preserved in Cape Town; Abdullah assumed leadership of the community in Cape Town and became known as "Tuan Guru".[citation needed] In 1799 the growth of the community encouraged Cape Town's Muslims to petition the VOC for permission to build a mosque.[citation needed]
[edit] After apartheid
Since South Africa became a democracy in 1994, there has been a growing number of Muslim migrants from South Asia and North Africa; however, their numbers are fairly low.[citation needed] Most of the Muslims are urban dwellers and thus live in or near Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Kimberley, Pretoria or Johannesburg.[citation needed]
[edit] Political parties
When the first democratic elections took place in April 1994 two Muslim parties emerged, the Africa Muslim Party and the Islamic Party. The AMP contested the National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature and the IP contested only the Western Cape provincial legislature. Neither party was able to secure seats in either legislature.
No representative Muslim party contested the 1999 elections.
The 2004 elections were contested by the AMP and the Peace and Justice Congress, again without success.[4]
[edit] Organisations
Besides political parties, a number of Islamic organisations operate in South Africa, looking after various aspects of Muslim life. Major organisations include the Muslim Judicial Council, whose activities include the provision of Halaal certification of food. The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) looks after the needs of South Africa's pilgrims and is responsible for the issuing of Hajj permits. There exist many other local organisations that look after the interests of their communities.[citation needed]
Organisations such as PAGAD have received attention for their fight against the scourge of gangsterism and drugs. PAGAD consisted of mainly Muslim people, but were joined by people from various religions. During this organisation's activities, gangsterism and drug dealing reduced considerably.
[edit] Prominent Muslims
Prominent Muslims are found in many spheres of South African life, notably in politics where they are represented at all forms of government.
Members of the Cabinet include Naledi Pandor, Minister of Education and her deputy, Enver Surty. Essop Pahad is the Minister without Portfolio, while his brother Aziz Pahad is the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Former Ministers include Kader Asmal (Education) and Dullah Omar [Justice,Transport].
In addition to Cabinet ministers, there are a number of Members of Parliament as well as councillors in the various provinces. The Western Cape premier, Ebrahim Rasool, is Muslim.
In sport, the most prominent South African Muslim is Test cricketer Hashim Amla. In rugby, the new talent of Ismaeel Dollie has come to the fore.
[edit] Schools of Islam
Most South African Muslims are members of the Sunni branch of Islam; there are however a small number of individuals who had converted to the Shi'a school.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Klein Constantia: Sheikh Abdurahman Matebe Shah. ThinkQuest. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ Klein Constantia - History. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ Nicole Itano (2002-01-10). In South Africa, many blacks convert to Islam. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ Manuel Álvarez-Rivera. General Elections in the Republic of South Africa. Election Resources on the Internet. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.
- Giliomee, H. (1979). The Shaping of South African Society 1652-1820. Longman. ISBN 0-582-64687-1.
[edit] Further reading
- Ebrahim Mahomed Mahida. History of Muslims in South Africa: A Chronology. South African History Online.
- AFOSA Shi'a organization in South Africa
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