Zimbabwe is a Christian majority country, with adherents of Islam being a small minority. Due to the secular nature of Zimbabwe's constitution, Muslims are free to proselytize and build places of worship in the country. Islam is the religion of less than 1 percent of the population of Zimbabwe.[1]
Demographics
editEstimates on the number of Muslims in Zimbabwe are around 136,000 as of 2020.[2] The Muslim community consists primarily of South Asian immigrants (Indian and Pakistani), a small but growing number of indigenous Zimbabweans, and migrants from other African countries such as the Yao tribe of neighbouring Malawi.[3] There are mosques located in nearly all of the larger towns. As a result of outreach efforts in rural areas, some chiefs and headmen have reportedly converted from Christianity to Islam.[4]
Remba (Lemba)
editThe Lemba or Remba are an ethnic group in Zimbabwe who have cultural traditions similar to Muslims in the Middle East, such as male circumcision.[5]
Famous Zimbabwean Muslims
edit- Mufti Menk – Grand Mufti of Zimbabwe, and was born on June 27, 1975. Mufti Menk is present on many social media websites, including YouTube.
- Sikandar Raza – International cricketer
- Faraz Akram - International Cricketer of Zimbabwe national cricket team
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Zimbabwe". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
An estimated 1 percent of the total population is Muslim.
- ^ "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". 21 December 2022.
- ^ Haron, Muhammed (2020), "Southern Africa's Muslim Communities: Selected Profiles", The Palgrave Handbook of Islam in Africa, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 163–202, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-45759-4_10, ISBN 978-3-030-45758-7, retrieved 10 February 2023
- ^ "Zimbabwe". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ Hove, Musavengana. "Muslims court Varemba community". The Herald. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
Further reading
edit- Shaibu, Asali (8 December 2018). "How Islam came to Zimbabwe". The Sunday News. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- CHAGONDA, ALFRED (23 April 1983). "Islam takes hold in Zimbabwe". Muslim Population. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- Mandivenga, E.C. (1983). Islam in Zimbabwe. Harare, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press. ISBN 0869222457.
External links
edit
- Reporter Interactive at Archive.org: Zimbabwean Christians and Muslims
- New York Times: the ban of Calls to Prayer in Zimbabwe
- US State department: religion in Zimbabwe
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