Jamat I Islamic In Africa: Not State Power But Conversion

The original purpose of Jamaat was not State power but cultural revolution: The expansion of Islam and conversion (mostly of pagan communities), via preaching or Jihad al-qawl: Preaching of the tongue and if needed Jihad bi al-sayf: Jihad of the sword. Sufi preachers were also involved in this effort: “….In the Horn and along the eastern coast of Africa immigrant Muslim divines established jama’at (semidetached religious communities) that developed by offering prospect of stable livelihood to dispossessed of peoples of servile origins and serving as sanctuaries for offenders fleeing form their own clans and families. The Quadiriyya Sufifounder by Abd al-Qudir al-Jilani (1977-1066), is the oldest tariqa to be established in Harar in East Africa from Aden by one Abu Bakr ibn “Abdallal al-Aydarus (d. 1503). Other turuq such as the Salihiyya, founded by Mohammad Salih of Arabia with a popular appeal within peasant circles in Somaliland, the Shadhiliyya, Husseiniyya, Ahmadiyya, and many others also made some impression (Lewis, 1955 ). In West Africa, the Kunta, under the celebrated leadership of one Sidi Ahmad al-bakka’I (d 1515), introduced the Quadiriyyay wirdwhere it was later popularized in the 19th century udnr the leadership of Sidi al-Mukhtat al-Kabir al-Kunti (d 1811) (Willis, 1997). These appellations all carry the connotation of someone who is literate in the Arabic script, Malam and Mwalimu are both from the Aabic mu’allim, which literally means, “teacher”, while karamoka is from the Arabic qaa’a which means “to read”, “to be literate”. These indigenous Muslim religious professionals, both a individuals and organized communities, are well known throughout Muslims-Africa as being the principal contributions to the spread of Islam through their provisions of charms, amulets and prayers for various purpose… “. Reference Azumah, J. A. (2018). The Legacy Of Arab Islam In Africa. Oneworld, London. Lewis, I. M (ed.) (1955). Islam In Tropical Africa. Willis, J. R (ed). “Jihad and the Ideology of Enslavement in Islam”. In Slaves and Slavery, vol 1.