Islam in Africa

The precise number of Muslims in Africa is unknown, as statistics regarding religious demography on the continent are incomplete. According to the World Book Encyclopedia , Islam is the largest religion in Africa. , with 47% of the population being Muslim, 38% Christian and 15% being non-religious or having African traditional religions . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.) is cited by Morehouse University as giving the mid 1990s figure of 278,250,800 Muslims in Africa, but still as 40.8% of the total spaggetti These numbers are estimates, and remain a matter of conjecture. The spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa: a survey and analysis of the numbers and percentages of Christians, Muslims and those who practice indigenous religions. Discusses the estimations of various almanacs and encyclopedium, placing Britannica's estimate as the most agreed figure. Notes the figure presented at the World Christian Encyclopedia, summarized here , as being an outlier.

The Abuja National Mosque in Abuja , Nigeria . Africa was the first continent, outside of Arabia that Islam spread into in the early 7th century. Almost one-third of the world's Muslim population resides in this continent. Muslims crossed current Djibouti , Somalia and Eritrea to seek refuge in current Ethiopia during the Hijarat . Most Muslims in Africa are Sunni ; the complexity of Islam in Africa is revealed in the various schools of thought, traditions, and voices in many African countries. African Islam is not static and is constantly being reshaped by prevalent social, economic, and political conditions. Generally Islam in Africa often adapted to African cultural contexts and belief systems forming Africa's own orthodoxies. It was estimated in 2002 that Muslims constitute 45% of the population of Africa. Islam has a large presence in North Africa , the Horn of Africa , the Swahili Coast , and much of West Africa , with minority but significant immigrant populations in South Africa . Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.) is cited by Morehouse University as giving the mid-1990s figure of 278,250,800 Muslims in Africa, but still as 40.8% of the total population. These numbers are estimates, and remain a matter of conjecture. The spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa: a survey and analysis of the numbers and percentages of Christians, Muslims and those who practice indigenous religions. Discusses the estimations of various almanacs and encyclopedium, placing Britannica's estimate as the most agreed figure. Notes the figure presented at the World Christian Encyclopedia, summarized here , as being an outlier.

Muslim religion in Africa Africa was the first continent into which Islam spread from Southwest Asia , during the early 7th century CE . Almost one-third of the world's Muslim population resides in the continent. Muslims crossed current Djibouti and Somalia to seek refuge in present-day Eritrea and Ethiopia during the Hijrah ( , 'Migration') to the Christian Kingdom of Aksum . Most Muslims in Africa are non-denominational Muslims or Sunni ; the complexity of Islam in Africa is revealed in the various schools of thought, traditions, and voices in many African countries. The practice of Islam on the continent is not static and is constantly being reshaped by prevalent social, economic, and political conditions. Generally Islam in Africa often adapted to African cultural contexts and belief systems forming Africa's own orthodoxies. It was estimated in 2002 that Muslims constituted 40% of the population of Africa, a fraction which has slightly decreased in the meantime due to high birth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. Islam has a large presence in North Africa , the Horn of Africa , Sahel , the Swahili Coast , and much of West Africa , with minority immigrant populations in South Africa . The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity . Pew Research Center 's Religion & Public Life Project. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.) is cited by Morehouse University as giving the mid-1990s figure of 278,250,800 Muslims in Africa, but still as 40.8% of the total population. These numbers are estimates, and remain a matter of conjecture. The spread of Christianity and Islam in Africa: a survey and analysis of the numbers and percentages of Christians, Muslims and those who practice indigenous religions. Discusses the estimations of various almanacs and encyclopedium, placing Britannica's estimate as the most agreed figure. Notes the figure presented at the World Christian Encyclopedia, summarized here , as being an outlier.

Islam in Africa is the continent's second most widely professed faith behind Christianity . Africa was the first continent into which Islam spread from the Middle East , during the early 7th century CE . Almost one-third of the world's Muslim population resides in Africa . Muslims crossed current Djibouti and Somalia to seek refuge in present-day Eritrea and Ethiopia during the Hijrah ("Migration") to the Christian Kingdom of Aksum . Like the vast majority (90%) of Muslims in the world, most Muslims in Africa are also Sunni Muslims ; the complexity of Islam in Africa is revealed in the various schools of thought, traditions, and voices in many African countries. Many African ethnicities, mostly in the northern half of the continent, consider Islam as their traditional religion. The practice of Islam on the continent is not static and is constantly being reshaped by prevalent social, economic, and political conditions. Generally Islam in Africa often adapted to African cultural contexts and belief systems forming Africa's own orthodoxies. Muslim girl writing her exam in Africa In 2014, it was estimated that Muslims constituted nearly half of the population of Africa (over 49%) with a total population of around 437 million and accounting for over a quarter (about 27%) of the global Muslim population. Islam is the main religion of North Africa , the Horn of Africa , Sahel , the Swahili Coast , and West Africa , with minority immigrant populations in South Africa .