The Preaching of Islam: A History of the Propagation of the Muslim FaithArnold, Thomas Walker, Sir
Islamic
The Preaching of Islam: A History of the Propagation of the Muslim Faith
Arnold, Thomas Walker, Sir
Islam -- History; Islam -- Missions -- History; Islam -- Relations
especially among the coloured people at the Cape and to achieve a
certain success. [1159] This proselytising movement is especially
strong in the western part of Cape Colony. It is said that there is a
movement on foot for the founding of a college at Claremont, in the
vicinity of Cape Town, which shall become a centre for the propagation
of Islam. One of the methods at present employed is the adoption of
neglected or abandoned children, who are brought up in the Muslim
faith. [1160] Every year some of them make the pilgrimage to Mecca,
where a special Shaykh has been appointed to look after them. [1161]
The Indian coolies that come to work in the diamond fields of South
Africa are also said to be propagandists of Islam. [1162]
On account of its isolated position, 220 to 540 miles from the
mainland, the island of Madagascar calls for separate mention. The only
tribe that has adopted Islam is that of the Antaimorona, occupying a
part of the south-east coast; they undoubtedly owed their conversion to
missionaries from Arabia, but the date at which this change of faith
took place is entirely unknown; tradition would carry it back to the
very days of Muḥammad himself, but it is not until the sixteenth
century that we get, in the works of Italian and Portuguese
geographers, authentic mention of Muhammadans on the island. [1163]
From the historical sketch given above it may be seen that peaceful
methods have largely characterised the Muhammadan missionary movement
in Africa, and though Islam has often taken the sword as an instrument
to further its spiritual conquests, such an appeal to violence and
bloodshed has in most cases been preceded by the peaceful efforts of
the missionary, and the preacher has followed the conqueror to complete
the imperfect work of conversion. It is true that the success of Islam
has been very largely facilitated in many parts of Africa by the
worldly successes of Muhammadan adventurers, and the erection of
Muhammadan states on the ruins of pagan kingdoms, and fire and
bloodshed have often marked the course of a Jihād, projected for the
extermination of the infidel. The words of the young Arab from Bornu
whom Captain Burton [1164] met in the palace of the King of Abeokuta
doubtless express the aspirations of many an African Muhammadan: “Give
those guns and powder to us, and we will soon Islamise these dogs”: and
they find an echo in the message that Mungo Park [1165] gives us as
having been sent by the Muslim King of Futah Toro to his pagan
neighbour: “With this knife Abdulkader will condescend to shave the
head of Damel, if Damel will embrace the Mahommedan faith; and with
this other knife Abdulkader will cut the throat of Damel, if Damel
refuses to embrace it; take your choice.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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