South Africa, the southern most African country of the Africa is house to a minority Islam viz a viz its total population. in fact a mere 1.5 to 2% of South Africa is Muslims. Although Muslims have been trickling down in bits and pieces from countries as far away as Indonesia (when the Dutch controlled and East Indies and the Cape an Muslims were were brought Dutch East Indies - present day Indonesia) later from British India in the 19th and 20th centuries, the overall Muslim population has not grown significantly.
the majority of Muslims are Sunni with a smaller number of Shia sect of Muslims. The small number of Muslims is considered mainly due to the apartheid regime and its strict policies of conversions to any other religion than Islam, there has been a growing number of Muslim migrants from South Asia and North Africa; however, their numbers are fairly low after the end of the apartheid and country becoming a democracy in 1994. According to Michael Mumisa, a researcher and writer on African Islam, there has been an increase in the number of black South Africans converting to Islam particularly among the women and the youth.
Jamiat ul-Ulama of the Transvaal (est. 1923), The Muslim Judicial Council (est. 1945) and Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa are some of the leading Muslim organizations looking after the interest of their respective communities. Most of the Indian community follow the Hanafi jurisprudence, while the Malay, Kokni Indian & East African Communities usually follow the Sha'afi jurisprudence, which predominates in the Western Cape.
the majority of Muslims are Sunni with a smaller number of Shia sect of Muslims. The small number of Muslims is considered mainly due to the apartheid regime and its strict policies of conversions to any other religion than Islam, there has been a growing number of Muslim migrants from South Asia and North Africa; however, their numbers are fairly low after the end of the apartheid and country becoming a democracy in 1994. According to Michael Mumisa, a researcher and writer on African Islam, there has been an increase in the number of black South Africans converting to Islam particularly among the women and the youth.
Although Islam is one of the smallest minorities in South Africa, is an integral and visible part of the society. This is especially true in the urban areas in the Western Cape, Natal and Transvaal. Among many prominent Muslim missionaries, Ahmed Hoosen Deedat (July 1, 1918 – August 8, 2005). Mr Deedat who held numerous inter-religious public debates with evangelical Christians, as well as video lectures on Islam, Christianity, and the Bible. Deedat established the IPCI, an international Islamic missionary organisation, and wrote several widely distributed booklets on Islam and Christianity. He was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in 1986 for his fifty years of missionary work.
Ahmed Hoosen Deedat [Photo]
Halal food can be found for Muslims in the Cape Town. In fact The entire kitchen at Hilton Cape Town City Centre is all halal. They don't serve wine.
Muslims observe their religious festivals with traditional Muslim zeal and fervour. The Friday (Jumu'ah) congregations and observance of Ramadan, followed by the Eid ul Fitr are usual Muslim holy months and feats that bind the small Muslim community together. Watch below the South African Muslims celebrating the month of Ramadan:
To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries
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