Islam in Africa

Muslims Migrate to Abyssina

Jan 1, 615

Muslims migrate to Abyssinia to escape persecution from the Makkans. The king of Abyssinia, Negus, treats them well and later accepts Islam, himself.

Uqbah bin Nafi Islamic conquest.

Jan 1, 670

Uqba ibn Nafi was an Arab general who participated in Jihad under Muawiya radhiallahu anhu. He began the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb (North Africa), including present-day Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco.

Islamic Empire

Jan 1, 750

Thenew religion of Islam swept outwards in a surge of conquests: Iraq and Iran, Syria and Palestine, Egypt and North Africa, Spain - all have fallen to them. Arab armies have penetrated as far as central Asia, western India and, briefly, into France.

Muslims in Timbuktu

Jan 1, 1000

The city of Timbuktu is founded. As traders settle there, they bring Islamic scholars with them. Islamic scholars spoke and wrote Arabic. West African tribes spoke many different languages and so Islam gave them one language to speak. Nearly every Muslim in Timbuktu learned to read and write. Learning Qur'an was important for West African Muslims.

Rise of Mali

Jan 1, 1235

King of Mali defeats King Sumanguru and Mali replaces Ghana. This year marked the fall of Ghana's Eimpire.

Mansa Musa: Muslim king of Mali

Jan 1, 1307

Mansa Musa, a devout Muslim, becomes king of Mali. Under his rule, conversions to Islam greatly increased

Mansa Musa makes pilgramige to Mecca

Jan 1, 1324

Musa made his pilgrimage in 1324, his procession reported to include 60,000 men, 12,000 slaves who each carried four-pound gold bars, heralds dressed in silks who bore gold staffs, organized horses and handled bags. Musa provided all necessities for the procession, feeding the entire company of men and animals. Also in the train were 80 camels, which varying reports claim carried between 50 and 300 pounds of gold dust each. He gave away the gold to the poor he met along his route.

Mansa Musa Dies

Jan 1, 1332

Mansa Musa dies. Mali is ruled by a series of kings who are unable to protect it's vast territories. Songhai begins to revolt. People from south raid Mali's southern border.

Songhai Begins to Conquer

Jan 1, 1464

Songhai begins conquering neighbors under leadership of Sunni Ali, a Muslim. Gao becomes Songhai's capital. After Sunni Ali died, his son, a non-Muslim, takes over.

Askia Muhammad Takes Over as King of Songhai

Jan 1, 1490

Askia Muhammad over throws Sunni Ali's son and becomes king of Songhai declaring Islam as the state religion. Askia Muhammad encourages non-Muslims to convert and invites scholars to his country and his country becomes a city of learning.

Muslims Increase and so Does Songhai's Power

Jan 1, 1500

As the number of Muslims increase, Songhai becomes the greatest empire of Africa.

Byzantines flee from Carthage

Mar 2, 2022

Byzantines flee from Carthage and Muslims get full power on the Berber Country.

Islam comes to Ghana

Mar 2, 2022

Arab Merchants come to live in Ghana. And as Arabs gain more influence, they teach the people of Ghana about Islam. Many government officials and merchants convert to Islam. Some merchants spend large funds to builds mosques. Among the first converts were the Mandinke people from the Southern Sahara. They spread Islam throughout West Africa. Many people converted to Islam because they were impressed by its teachings and the conduct of the early Muslims.