Islam society in Zimbabwe

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
The Islamic community in Zimbabwe enjoys a good social relationship with the Christian community even though the two differ in terms of religious beliefs.

The two religions can be traced back to the colonial era and have been widely embraced.

However, because Islam, whose followers are referred to as Muslims (at times spelt Moslem) is not as popular as Christianity, not many out there know about it.

a�?People in general know little about us but they are aware of our existence because of our places of worship and dress code,a�? said the religious leader of the Muslim Community in Bulawayo Elaijah Yasini.

Like any other religion there are extremists. Yasini said the extremists known the world over operating under the name Islamic State a�� a jihadist movement that burst on to the international scene in 2014 when it seized large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq and is notorious for mass killings, is not part of them.

a�?We are aware there are extremist group operating under the name of the Islamic State. These are people who have their own opinions which are contrary to the core values of Islam whichA� is to spread peace all over,a�? he said.

Boko Haram which calls itself the Islamic State of West Africa active inA� North Eastern NigeriaA� Chad, NigerA� and northern CameroonA� with allegedA� links to Al-Qaeda a�� a terrorist group fuels stereotyping ofA� Islams in Zimbabwe.

a�?For example the first suicide bomber was a Christian extremist, it would be wrong to blame Christianity as a whole.

The same goes to Islam, thata��s why in Zimbabwe we are a family with Christians, we are all human beings and we respect each other,a�? he added.

Probably the most popular global Muslim is the late boxing icon Muhammad Ali who originally was a Christian and a member Baptist church.

He changed to Islam when he met Malcolm Little a fellow American civil rights activist in 1964 who later became known as Malcolm X.

It is no surprise that a sizable population of native Zimbabweans have converted to the religion.

a�?We have an open door policy to the public. Islam is a religion for everyone regardless of race and ethnicity. We have different local tribes as part of us,a�? he added.

Difference with Christianity?

Despite the two having a historical and traditional connection there is a difference to some extent.

a�?We believe in Christ but he is not God. We acknowledge the existence of these great prophets, Abraham and Moses to mention a few, but as Muslims we pray straight to God. We dona��t believe in intermediators, for we believe that polytheism is a sin and we base this on the command from the Quran which is to worship God almighty just like in Christianity,a�? he said.

He further stated that Muslims have five prayer intervals per day which last three to four minutes each and they gather to worship on Fridays unlike Christians who go to church on Sunday or Saturday if Seventh Day Adventist.

a�?We strongly believe that God must be worshiped 24 hours per day. Within a day we go for prayers in the mosque five times for three to four minutes. This is obligatory for males but females can also pray in their homes. Every Friday ita��s a congregational day whereby different messages are preached to congregates,a�? he said.