History of Islam in Africa

History of Islam in AfricaOne of the very first things that a student will need to do in his or her quest to study Islam in Afruca is to do research papers on the history of Islam in Afruca. There are so many issues and areas of interest here that one could not hope to have one paper dedicated to it alone.First of all, we can begin with the basics. This city is in the central part of North Africa and a major commercial center. The history of Islam in Africa begins with a small group of Arabs who took up residence in this area because of its climate and fertile soil. They converted to Islam in the seventh century, when the city of Kufa was abandoned.The first universities in Afruca were founded by the Arabs as a response to the Arab University in the city of Alexandria. They used this as a platform to spread their faith. Once the original inhabitants of this area have been converted to Islam, the age of expansion continues. The caliph Al Mughira established a system of schools in this region, which was the birthplace of the first Saudi universities.The next stage in the story of Islam in Africa comes with the arrival of the Mongols, who settled in this area and built fortresses, which they used as religious centers. The Mongol empire ruled a large portion of Europe and Asia at the time. They faced opposition from the Ottoman Empire. They also clashed with the Christian crusaders who moved from Europe to the Middle East and established churches in places such as Palestine.The only civilization of North Africa to have a much greater impact on the rest of the world than Christianity was the Portuguese Empire. They founded the countries of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, and Sao Tome, while they also built several smaller trading posts and ports throughout this region. With them they brought the so-called 'West Indian rule' and other historical sites like Port Elizabeth.From this period onwards, the history of Islam in Africa moves to the times of the Portuguese. The re ign of the Muslims in this region continued after the establishment of the Portuguese civilization, which started the process of colonialism and expansion.The twentieth century witnessed the spread of the Portuguese influence further, as well as the emergence of the oil industry in this region. With the rise of oil, the industrialization of this region becomes a reality, which gave rise to the formation of petro-states in North Africa. Many of these states have become political and religious regimes, which has become an obstacle for the expansion of Islam in Africa. What was once a Muslim region, now looks more like a jungle where the bare necessities of life are met by Muslims.