Islam in Cuba
Encyclopedia
According to a 2009 Pew Research Center
report, there are 9,000 Muslims in Cuba who constitute 0.1% of the population.
At a certain point there were many Muslim students entering the nation of Cuba interested in studying at Cuba's prestigious schools. The amount of students was approximately 1500-2000. Among that group were students of Pakistani origin, among others. It is known that the dominant population that went to study at Cuba was the Pakistani students who were about 900 in strength. In 2001 Sheikh Muhammad bin Nassir Al-Aboudy, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim World League
(MWL) travelled to Cuba
to obtain permission from the Cuban authorities to establish an Islamic organization that would support Cuba’s Muslim community. Among the other aims of the proposed organization would be constructing mosques and the dissemination of Islamic culture among the Muslims.
in Havana
and the state does not allow the construction of mosques. Though former President
Fidel Castro
was reported to have promised to build a mosque for his country’s Muslims, according to members of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) who visited Cuba The only prayers performed in public are the Friday Prayers that are conducted in a place known as Casa de los Árabes ("The Arab House") in old Havana. The Arab House belonged to a wealthy Arab
immigrant who lived in Cuba during the 1940s, and it was built on Andalusia
n architectural designs. The House encompasses an Arabic museum, an Arabic restaurant, and the place is used by Muslim diplomats for Friday Prayers. Qatar
donated US$ 40,000 for the remodeling of the House, but it is only opened for Friday Prayers, but Cuban Muslims are not allowed to use the facilities, which are only reserved for non Cuban muslims: tourists and diplomatics.
Cuban Muslims make up the poorest group in the entire country.
Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center is an American think tank organization based in Washington, D.C. that provides information on issues, attitudes and trends shaping the United States and the world. The Center and its projects receive funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts. In 1990, Donald S...
report, there are 9,000 Muslims in Cuba who constitute 0.1% of the population.
At a certain point there were many Muslim students entering the nation of Cuba interested in studying at Cuba's prestigious schools. The amount of students was approximately 1500-2000. Among that group were students of Pakistani origin, among others. It is known that the dominant population that went to study at Cuba was the Pakistani students who were about 900 in strength. In 2001 Sheikh Muhammad bin Nassir Al-Aboudy, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim World League
Muslim World League
The Muslim World League is one of the largest Islamic non-governmental organizations. Muslim religious figures from 22 states founded it in Makkah in 1962.-Structure:...
(MWL) travelled to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to obtain permission from the Cuban authorities to establish an Islamic organization that would support Cuba’s Muslim community. Among the other aims of the proposed organization would be constructing mosques and the dissemination of Islamic culture among the Muslims.
High Point
Cuban Muslims learned Islam through embassies of Middle Eastern countries as well as through students coming to study in Cuba from Muslim and African countries. Islam started to spread among Cubans in the 1970s and '80s. Printed and audio-visual Islamic resources are now almost nonexistent in Cuba. Spanish translation of the Quran and other major Islamic books are not available in the country. The Muslim community of Cuba even lacks educated religious cadres."Casa de los Árabes"
Cuba’s Muslims usually pray in their homes since there is no MosqueMosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and the state does not allow the construction of mosques. Though former President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
was reported to have promised to build a mosque for his country’s Muslims, according to members of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) who visited Cuba The only prayers performed in public are the Friday Prayers that are conducted in a place known as Casa de los Árabes ("The Arab House") in old Havana. The Arab House belonged to a wealthy Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
immigrant who lived in Cuba during the 1940s, and it was built on Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
n architectural designs. The House encompasses an Arabic museum, an Arabic restaurant, and the place is used by Muslim diplomats for Friday Prayers. Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
donated US$ 40,000 for the remodeling of the House, but it is only opened for Friday Prayers, but Cuban Muslims are not allowed to use the facilities, which are only reserved for non Cuban muslims: tourists and diplomatics.
Muslim Groups
There are two Islamic groups in Cuba: the Cuban Islamic Union, which is headed by its president, Yanya Pedro, and the Islamic Association Of Cuba, in Havana.Cuban Muslims make up the poorest group in the entire country.
Notable Muslims
- Alí Nicolás Cossío - Former foreign ministry official who now reports for the "Voice of Islam", a radio station
- Juan Carlos GomezJuan Carlos GomezJuan Carlos Gómez is a professional boxer. A former Cuban amateur star, he is also a former WBC Cruserweight Champion and a devout Muslim. He lives in and boxes out of Orlando, Florida, USA.-Early years and defection:...
- Professional BoxerBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and former Cruiserweight Champion