Early Islam in Africa: Ethiopia, Conquest and Trade

Islam came to Africa here, led by Jaafar to

King Negus. There was no fight. We lived in Ethiopia peacefully

to the extent that the King Negus, or Azhamma, embraced

Islam and died a Muslim. Then around six hundred and thirty

nine, Amr ibn al-As during the rule of Umar ibn

al-Khattab, the reign of Umar ibn al-Khattab,

Amr ibn al-As

came to Africa. When he was coming, the-- Umar told him, "The Prophet Sallallahu

Alaihi Wasallam has told us that when you conquer Africa..." The Prophet

prophesied

this, that, "When you conquer Africa, do not hurt them."

Mm.

Don't seize their lands. Don't own a piece of

land over there, and allow them to live freely for they

are your in-laws.

Prophet married an African, married Khedija.

Then they are your grandparents, Hagar from Africa,

and Arabs see Hagar as their grandmother. These are Arabs.

Al Arab, the Araba. The Ishmaelite, they see Hagar as their

grand-grandmother. So when Amr ibn al-As conquered

Africa, and this I'm quoting from Encyclopedia

Britannica.

Look at the heading, The Early Rule of Islam in

Africa. When we came here, the Byzantines were those

that were ruling Africans, and they were forcing Muslims under

compulsion. Astaghfirullah. They were forcing Africans under

compulsion to become Christians, to dress like

them. That is why you see every pastor wearing

cleric and coat and tie.

Exactly.

Is it our clothes?

No.

I'm a Muslim. I'm dressed real African. I've never...

Me, you don't see me dress any tribal. I dress like an African.

Wanted us to look like them. They wanted us to do everything like them.

But when Islam, uh, took over, uh, Africa around six hundred

and thirty-nine to six hundred and forty-two, Islam said to the Africans,

"You are

free to practice your religion. You are free to do whatever you want.

We don't have to own any land over here.

You are free to be your kings."

Islam came to Africa primarily through commerce and trade with Muslims

and helped build Africa, compared to the European colonizers who

forced Christian conversions, destroyed cities, stole,

raped, pillaged, plundered, and annihilated an estimated

twenty million Africans. So let's not point fingers

while they're dripping with

blood