Spread Of Islam In North Africa Research Paper

Spread of Islam in North Africa
The first influx of Muslims into Africa was during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad in which a group of citizens from Mecca fled to Ethiopia to escape prosecution. Islam swept across North Africa very early after the death of Muhammad, spreading from Egypt in the 7th century reaching all the way to the Atlantic by the 8th. The spread of Islam in North Africa is similar to the way Europeans colonized America in that it was a westward spread across the continent. However, unlike the colonizing powers of America who strived to dissociate themselves from their European origins, the Arabs were in pursuit of establishing an Islamic identity throughout North Africa. The Arabs did not underplay its link to the
The spread of Islam was not only carried out by soldiers because this would imply after conquering the lands Islam was violently imposed on them and this was not at all the case. The gradual attraction of the people to both the military and the religion was due to the fact that the Muslims were the ruling class in societies. There was no pressure exerted on to the people of the lands that forced them to convert to Islam. Their protection and rights to practice their religions was ensured as long as they paid a tax. This was a fair agreement for the Copts as their previous rulers not only burdened them with heavy taxes and other forms of exploitation but also they were also prosecuted for practicing their religion (Hrbek, 25). It is fair to say that at first the governments were hostile to the conversion of Islam by the population because an increase in Muslims would dilute the economic advantages the Muslims yearn for. Nonetheless, the increase of Muslims in North Africa further strengthened their communities. Under the rule of Arabs, Egypt experienced an influx of Arabs who became the privileged members in society. They replaced the non-Muslims in administration to hold high titles in politics. Gradually those of other religions had little to no significant role in governing the state.
Two processes that are almost interdependent on one another, Islamization and Arabization, subsequently followed the introduction of Islam in North Africa. Islamization refers to the conversion of people to Islam and the spark of Islamic supremacy in society. Arabization is the growth of the Arabic culture and language. Arabization is a phenomenon that is closely related to the spread of Islam all throughout the world. Almost all those who became Muslim adopted the Arabic language because Islam requires some knowledge of Arabic to practice the religion. Because Muslims were required to know some Arabic to fulfil their religious duties many Muslims shared a common language, a language in which merchants of trade spoke. Arabic in that region has become the dominant language of trade because Muslims were in control of not only the major trade routes of the Sahara but they were also in control of the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Arabs were not completely foreign to North Africa prior to the birth of Islam, as they were well known traders in that region (Sulayman). The Arabs supplied North Africa with spices from India, fabrics and other goods by means of their control of the Red Sea. Pre-existing trade, commerce and travel via of the red sea prior dating back to pre-Islamic times between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula propelled the