Islam in Haiti
Encyclopedia
The estimated population of Haiti
an Muslims is about 3000, representing approximately 0.04 percent of the population, although local Muslims claim the actual number is larger, nearing 5000 due to many Muslims that supposedly aren't counted due to inaccessibility or unavailability.
Islamic organizations in Haiti include the Bilal Mosque and Islamic Center in Cap-Haïtien
, which offers programs in Islamic studies
and daily prayers
, Byllal Miragoâne Mosque in Miragoâne and the Centre Spirituel Allah ou Akbar in Port-au-Prince
. The foundation stone of the first mosque in Gonaïves has been laid and is near completion, named Mosque-ul-Munawwar, dedicated on his father's name by a Pakistan Army officer serving in MINUSTAH. After the 2010 earthquake a number of Islamic organisations and relief groups visited the country with the purpose of rendering aid and assistance to those affected. This influx saw an interjection of help and assistance to the local Muslims and their Jamaat
s. Resulting from this response one scholar from Trinidad
(Mufti Shaheed Mohammed) has also established a Darul Uloom
in the Miragoâne
area which caters for Muslims of the entire country. The object of this Islamic Institute is to teach the authentic doctrines of Islam.
The history of Islam on the island of Hispaniola
(which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic
) begins with the slavery in Haïti.
Many Muslims were imported as slaves to Haiti.
Although many were forced to abandon Islam over time, their Islamic heritage has persisted in the culture of native Haitians.
Additionally, a revisionist history of Dutty Boukman
, whose death is largely considered the start of the Haitian Revolution
, suggests that he was Muslim.
In the early portion of the 20th century, a wave of Arab
immigrants came to the Americas, in which a surprisingly noticeable amount settled in Haiti (and other countries as well).
It is said that the first to arrive in Haiti around 1920 was a man hailing from the Moroccan
village of Fes
along with 19 other families.
Today, the majority of the country's Muslims are indigenous Haitians, followed by the ethnic Moroccans.
As a result of limited financial resources, they were unable to build a mosque
or school until 1985, when a residence was converted into a mosque and a minaret
was constructed.
In 2000, Nawoon Marcellus
, a member of Fanmi Lavalas
from San Raphael, became the first Muslim elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Haïti
.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an Muslims is about 3000, representing approximately 0.04 percent of the population, although local Muslims claim the actual number is larger, nearing 5000 due to many Muslims that supposedly aren't counted due to inaccessibility or unavailability.
Islamic organizations in Haiti include the Bilal Mosque and Islamic Center in Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
, which offers programs in Islamic studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
and daily prayers
Salat
Salah is the practice of formal prayer in Islam. Its importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam, of the Ten Practices of the Religion of Twelver Islam and of the 7 pillars of Musta'lī Ismailis...
, Byllal Miragoâne Mosque in Miragoâne and the Centre Spirituel Allah ou Akbar in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
. The foundation stone of the first mosque in Gonaïves has been laid and is near completion, named Mosque-ul-Munawwar, dedicated on his father's name by a Pakistan Army officer serving in MINUSTAH. After the 2010 earthquake a number of Islamic organisations and relief groups visited the country with the purpose of rendering aid and assistance to those affected. This influx saw an interjection of help and assistance to the local Muslims and their Jamaat
Jamaat
The term Jamaat can apply to the following:*Jamia - a gathering or congregatation; place of gathering.*Jamaat-e-Islami - a South Asian Islamic movement based in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India .*Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen - a Muslim organization in Indo-Pak.*Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind - an Islamic group in...
s. Resulting from this response one scholar from Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
(Mufti Shaheed Mohammed) has also established a Darul Uloom
Darul uloom
Darul uloom , also spelled darul ulum etc., is an Arabic term which literally means "house of knowledge". The term generally means an Islamic seminary or educational institution—similar to or often the same as a madrassa or Islamic school—although a Darul Uloom often indicates a more advanced level...
in the Miragoâne
Miragoane
Miragoâne is a coastal town in western Haïti and the capital of the Nippes Department. It is regarded as one of the major ports in the trade in used goods. Bales of used clothing, shoes, appliances and used cars arrive at the port from Miami and other U.S. cities. Local merchants in the informal...
area which caters for Muslims of the entire country. The object of this Islamic Institute is to teach the authentic doctrines of Islam.
The history of Islam on the island of Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
(which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) begins with the slavery in Haïti.
Many Muslims were imported as slaves to Haiti.
Although many were forced to abandon Islam over time, their Islamic heritage has persisted in the culture of native Haitians.
Additionally, a revisionist history of Dutty Boukman
Dutty Boukman
Dutty Boukman ' was a Jamaican born houngan, or Haitian priest who conducted a religious ceremony in Haiti in which a freedom covenant was affirmed; this ceremony is considered a catalyst to the slave uprising that marked the beginning of the Haïtian Revolution.-Background:Boukman Dutty was a self...
, whose death is largely considered the start of the Haitian Revolution
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
, suggests that he was Muslim.
In the early portion of the 20th century, a wave of 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...
immigrants came to the Americas, in which a surprisingly noticeable amount settled in Haiti (and other countries as well).
It is said that the first to arrive in Haiti around 1920 was a man hailing from the Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
village of Fes
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
along with 19 other families.
Today, the majority of the country's Muslims are indigenous Haitians, followed by the ethnic Moroccans.
As a result of limited financial resources, they were unable to build a mosque
Mosque
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...
or school until 1985, when a residence was converted into a mosque and a minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
was constructed.
In 2000, Nawoon Marcellus
Nawoon Marcellus
Nawoon Marcellus was an elected official of the Chamber of Deputies of Haïti from 2001 until 2004. The first Muslim to hold the position in Haïti, he was formerly affiliated with the now defunct Lavalas Family political party of ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.-Sources:Country Reports on Human...
, a member of Fanmi Lavalas
Fanmi Lavalas
Fanmi Lavalas is a leftist political party in Haiti. Its leader is former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It has been a powerful force in Haitian politics since 1991. Fanmi Lavalas governments supported a policy of "growth with equity" based on Caribbean and Western European social...
from San Raphael, became the first Muslim elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Haïti
Chamber of Deputies of Haïti
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of Haiti's bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. The upper house of the National Assembly is the Senate of Haiti. The Chamber has ninety-nine members who are elected by popular vote to four-year terms...
.