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Islam is the largestreligion in the Comoros. According to the 2006 estimate by theU.S. Department of State, roughly 98% of the population in theComoros isMuslim. Virtually allMuslims in theComoros areSunni belonging toShafi'i school ofjurisprudence. Most adherents areArab-Swahili, but there are also people ofIndian, largelyGujarati, descent.
Local legend claims Islam was brought to the islands duringMuhammad’s lifetime, brought by two Comorian nobles, Fey Bedja Mwamba and Mtswa Mwandze, who visitedMecca.[1] Foreign Muslim merchants likely had a presence in the area as far back as the 9th or 10th century, due to the Comoros being actively involved in theIndian Ocean trade at the time. It's possible that small minorities of native Comorians could have converted to Islam during that time.[2]
Historical evidence suggests Arab merchants and exiled Zayidi PersianShirazi princes first introduced the religion. Islam has long played a central role in the Comoros. Ruling families learned Arabic, performedHajj, and maintained ties with other Muslim communities, such asKilwa,Zanzibar andHadramawt. SeveralSufitariqa, including theShadhili, theQadiriya, and theRifa'i, are also active.
Hassan ibn Issa, a 16th-century Shirazi chief who claimed descent from theIslamic prophetMuhammad, encouraged conversion and constructed numerousmasaajid. In the 19th century, Sheikh Abdalah Darwesh initiated the Shadiliyatariqa in the Comoros. Born inGrande Comore, Sheikh Darwesh traveled throughout theMiddle East and later converted Said Muhammad Al-Maarouf (d. 1904), who became the Shadilya’s supreme guide. Sheikh Al-Ami ibn Ali al-Mazruwi (d. 1949) was the first of the region'sulama to author Islamic literature inSwahili. Al-Habib Omar b. Ahmed Bin Sumeit (d. 1976) studied in Arab countries before serving as teacher andqadi inMadagascar, Zanzibar, and, after 1967, the Comoros.
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Hundreds of mosques are scattered throughout the islands, as well as numerousmadrasa. Practically all children attend Quranic School for two or three years, usually starting around the age of five; there they learn the rudiments of Islam and Arabiclinguistics. When rural children attend these schools, they sometimes move away from home and assist their teacher in working his land. In 1998, a new Grand Mosque, financed by theemir ofSharjah, was inaugurated inMoroni. The tombs of Islamic holy men and founders ofṭarīqah are frequently visited on religious occasions.
Comorians follow religious observances conscientiously and strictly adhere to religious orthodoxy. During colonization, theFrench did not attempt to supplant Islamic practices and were careful to respect the precedents ofsharia as interpreted by theShafi'i school of thought. All Muslim holidays are observed, includingId al-Adha,Muharram,Ashura,Mawlid, Laylat al-Mi'raj andRamadan. Mawlid is marked by celebrations culminating in a feast prepared for the ulama. Many women wear thechirumani, a printed cloth worn around the body. Comorians often consult mwalimus orfundi andmarabouts for healing and protection fromjinn.Mwalimus activatejinn to determine propitious days for feasts, have a successful marriage, conduct healing ceremonies, and prepare amulets containing Quranicayat.
The chaotic economic and political climate since independence in 1975 has been detrimental to the development ofhuman rights and social justice. Rival factions have sought to mobilize religious support both to uphold and contest political power and social inequality. Political opponents have relied on their own interpretation of the Quran andhadith, advocatingShariah to rectify political corruption. Competing Islamic views have entered politics, both to justify and challenge the government. European trained government officials have adopted Western political ideologies and secularism while continuing to support leaders of Islamic brotherhoods. Islamism andWahhabism has become increasingly as students returned from Islamic studies abroad. In response to perceived injustice and chaos within the Comorian government, Islamists hope to create an Islamic republic. Suspectedal-Qaeda memberFazul Abdullah Mohammed was born inMoroni in the Comoros and hasKenyan as well as Comorian citizenship.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Country Studies.Federal Research Division.
