Islam in Africa, the development of the Muslim religion on the African continent.

During Muhammad's lifetime a group of Muslims escaped Meccan persecution (615) by fleeing to Ethiopia, where the Negus gave them protection. The spread of Islam in Africa began in the 7th and 8th cent. with the Umayyads, who brought the religion to the Middle East and to the littoral of North Africa. Along the coast of Africa Islam spread among the Berbers, who joined the Muslim community and almost immediately drove north across the Mediterranean into Europe. In Morocco, Muslims founded the city of Fès (808), which soon thereafter gave refuge to Andalusian Muslims fleeing an uprising in Córdoba (see Idrisids). On the east coast of Africa, where Arab mariners had for many years journeyed to trade, Arabs founded permanent colonies on the offshore islands, especially on Zanzibar, in the 9th and 10th cent. From there Arab trade routes into the interior of Africa helped the slow acceptance of Islam and led to the development of Swahili culture and language.

Is the Goal of Islam World Conquest?

The following is a statement by the late Ayatollah Khomeini about the goals of Islam.

Islam makes it incumbent on all adult males, provided they are not disabled and incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of other [countries] so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country in the world. But those who study Islamic Holy War will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world...Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those [who say this] are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured [by the unbelievers]?

Kenya in East Africa, also falls in to this category, under a Christian leadership its nearly 40% Muslim population, mainly living in the coast, had been completely marginalized for the three decades of Kenya independence. In the last two years however the movements in Kenya have brought this gross injustice to the center stage of Kenya politics. In the wake of multiparty politics they have insisted on the registration of the Islamic Party of Kenya IPK.

THE ABUJA DECLARATION: The Islamic Initiative to Takeover Africa

I.          Introduction

What is commonly known as the "Abuja Declaration" is officially known as "Islam in Africa Conference: Communiqué". This was a communiqué issued at the end of the Islam in Africa conference held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 24-28 November 1989. This conference, organized by the 46-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), resolved to create an organization to be known as Islam in Africa Organization to spearhead a Muslim initiative to solve the problems facing Africa. This initiative essentially calls for the Islamization of the entire continent of Africa.

We will be a better world when each religious group can trust its members to obey the dictates of their own religious faith without assistance from the legal structure of any country

Adapted From Margaret Mead

Kenya is a multi faith country

We are a very religious country and even our National Anthem recognizes this fact. Save for a few cases of religious intolerance, people from different religions co exist well with each other in Kenya. It is very important that this balance be kept, and evidenced in the new Constitution.

The Constitution has always protected the freedom of religion

The current Kenyan Constitution provides for freedom of religion, it also provides that nobody shall be discriminated against by reason of their religion among other things. The new Constitution should give equal, fair and just treatment to all Kenyans.

Until now… all versions of the proposed new Constitution (since 2002) have consistently stated that

• State and religion will be separate
• All religions will be treated equally; and
• There will be no state religion