|
|
|
The Islamic community of South Africa reflects the same diversity that characterizes the rest of the South African population.
|
With
over 40 million people, eleven national languages, nine provinces, and
landscapes that cover the extremes of the deserts and savannas to the beauty of
snow-capped mountains,
South Africa
truly encapsulates diversity.
The
country’s biggest asset is its people—a rainbow nation with a rich and
diverse culture. At last count, there were over 40 million people in
South Africa
. Of these, 76.7% classified themselves as African, 10.9% as white, 8.9% as
colored, and 2.6% as Indian/Asian.
The
South African population consists of the following groups: the Nguni people
(consisting of the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi), who account for two-thirds
of the population; the Sotho-Tswana people, who include the Southern, Northern
and Western Sotho (Tswana); the Tsonga; the Venda; Afrikaners; English;
Coloreds; Indians; and people who have immigrated to South Africa from the rest
of Africa, Europe and Asia and who maintain a strong cultural identity. A few
members of the Khoi and the San also live in
South Africa
.
Although
Muslims constitute less than 2% of the population, the Islamic community of
South Africa
reflects the same diversity that characterizes the rest of the South African
population.
Islam
in
South Africa
Islam
grew by two phases of immigration in
South Africa
. The first phase brought the earliest Muslims to
South Africa
. They were part of the involuntary migration of slaves, political prisoners and
criminals from
Africa
and
Asia
that lasted from about 1652 to the mid-1800’s. Included in this group were
the “Mardykers”, the Malay servants of Dutch officials who were on their way
back to the
Netherlands
from the East. Many of these servants opted to remain at the
Cape
, and the
Cape Province
today houses the majority of so-called Malay Muslims. The main group of
immigrants came from
East Africa
,
Madagascar
, and
West Africa
. Islam spread rapidly as a result of institutionalization, and an emphasis on
education and literacy. Other factors that acted as a catalyst for the growth of
Islam at the
Cape
included conversion, adoption, the purchase of slaves by free Muslims, and
intermarriage.
The
arrival of Indian Muslims in
South Africa
When
slavery was abolished in 1838, British authorities realised the need for an
alternative system of labor, and Indians were brought in as indentured laborers
to work in the sugar-cane fields in
Natal
. Between 1860 and 1868, and again from 1874 to 1911, some 176,000 Indians of
all faiths were brought to the
Natal
province. Approximately 7-10% of the first shipment were Muslim, forming part
of the second phase of Muslim immigration. These Muslims generally came from
Malabar, on the west coast of south
India
, and
Hyderabad
in the south. The indentured Muslims were followed by free immigrant Muslims,
mainly Sunni Vhoras from
Surat
, and Memons from Kathiawad and
Kutch
.
The
founding father of Islam in
Natal
was Sheikh Ahmad, who arrived with the indentured laborers of the 1860s. Soofie
Saheb, the second founding father, arrived in 1895 and saw that impoverished
Indian Muslims were at risk of being absorbed into Hinduism. He demarcated
special Islamic folk festivals to “lure” the vulnerable, and also
established Muslim festivals and schools (madrasahs). After serving their
indentures, Natal Muslims were free to live in the interior of
South Africa
(except in the
Orange Free State
, which Indians were prohibited from entering). Some Indian Muslims went to
Cape Town
, while others went to the
Transvaal
and
Kimberley
.
Although
Muslims formed the minority of Indians in
South Africa
, most immigrants brought with them various cultural and linguistic traits from
India
. Muslims spoke either Urdu or Gujarati, with there being more Urdu-speaking
Muslims than Gujarati.
Despite
the ideological, cultural and linguistic differences between the “Malay” and
Indian Muslims, the Muslim community here has continued to thrive—mainly as a
result of the hard work of religious scholars and community activists.
Particular attention has been paid to the establishment of religious and
educational institutions to ensure not just the survival, but growth, of Islam
in this country.
South
African Muslims: vibrant and dynamic
|
|
Muslims played a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle and in the post-apartheid government of South Africa. |
In
South Africa
today, there are over 500 mosques, 408 educational institutes, colleges, Muslim
private schools, religious instruction canters, and colleges of Islamic
Sciences. Many universities offer Arabic and Islamic Studies as part of their
academic curriculum. Muslims are involved in every profession and field of
endeavor, and played a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle and in
the post-apartheid government of
South Africa
.
The
proliferation of Islamic media is testament to the vibrancy of the local
community. Private Islamic radio stations are broadcast in nearly every province
with significant Muslim populations: Radio Islam in
Johannesburg
; Radio 786 in
Cape Town
; Radio Al-Ansaar in
Durban
. Islamic newspapers have also played an important role in educating the Muslim
community about various issues. Prominent newspapers include Al-Qalam; The
Muslim Digest, Ar-Rasheed; Muslim Views, Al-Ummah and The Majlis.
Local
Muslim organizations have taken the lead in addressing humanitarian needs
locally and abroad. The Gift of the Givers Foundation, Africa Muslim Agency,
Crescent of Hope, and the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa have
helped Muslims and non-Muslims alike in times of conflict, natural disasters,
and political upheaval.
There
are Islamic societies and associations formed by students at most of the
important secondary and tertiary educational institutions. Muslim women are not
far behind their male counterparts; they have formed their own associations and
are rendering valuable services to the community with a true Islamic spirit.
Noteworthy among them are:
Cape Town
; Islamic Da`wah Movement, Women’s Wing,
Durban
; Islamic Women’s Association,
Durban
; Jama`at-un-Nissa,
Kimberley
; Muslim Women’s Federation,
Cape Town
.
The
Muslim youth are not far behind in this either. Some of their important
associations and societies are: Fordsburg Muslim Youth Organisation,
Johannesburg; Laudium Islamic Youth Awareness Movement, Pretoria; Muslim Youth
Unity, Cape Town; Nur-ul-Islam Yield Youth Association, Cape Town; the Kauther
Youth Circle, Johannesburg; and Saut-us-Shabaab, Cape Town.
Challenges
South
African Muslims have been blessed with the freedom to express and practice
Islam. Even during the repression of apartheid, the National Party regime did
not hinder Islam in any way. However, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the
increase in Islamophobic behavior following the attacks on the
World
Trade
Center
in
New York
have led to increased fear and suspicion of Muslims. Urban terrorism in the
Western Cape
committed by People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) has fuelled
anti-Islamic sentiment there. This manifested itself in the form of
anti-terrorism legislation following 9/11 that would ultimately target Muslims
and Islamic organizations. Opposition to this type of legislation has been
strong, and it is hoped that the government will not allow this legislation to
enter the statute books.
Despite
these challenges, Islam in
South Africa
continues to thrive with many indigenous Africans embracing Islam. This
reflects the global trend of an increasing number of converts to Islam.
South
African Muslims come from many cultural traditions but belong to one nation—a
dynamic blend of age-old customs and modern ways, building a new South African
society to create a better life for all.
*
Suraya Dadoo is a researcher with Media Review Network (www.mediareviewnet.com)
an advocacy group based in
Pretoria
,
South Africa
.
|