Beliefs Of Islam Biography
Source:- Google.com.pkMost of the African slaves sent to North America came from West Africa. They were men, women and children captured and sold to slave traders, forced on to ships, and kept in appalling conditions for the long journey to the Americas. It is thought by modern historians that at the height of the slave trade, the 18th century, up to 7 million Africans had undertaken this voyage. It is also estimated that up to 30% of the enslaved in North America were Muslim.
To understand the history of Muslim slaves in North America it is necessary to know something about slavery as it previously existed in Africa and the history of Islam in Africa, particularly in West Africa. Islam first reached West Africa by way of traders from North Africa and the Middle East. They settled in the area from as early as the tenth century BCE and thus began a slow and peaceful process brought about by trade. The journey from North Africa across the Sahara was done in stages. Goods passed through a chain of Muslim traders and were purchased finally by non-Muslims at the southern end of the route. Until the first half of the 13th century the kingdom of Ghana was a key trading partner with the Muslim North. Over the next five hundred years, assorted West African rulers and local merchants who wanted to do business with the Muslim traders adapted themselves to Islam and its customs. Islam itself had a reputation of absorbing local customs thus the transition was smooth. However the majority of West African people did not convert to Islam until well into the 18th century, which just happened to be at the height of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Across Africa, slaves were taken as prisoners of war, or enslaved in payment for debt or as punishment for crime. This enslavement was usually on a small scale. Africans usually enslaved ‘other’ people, not their own particular ethnic, or cultural, group. This small scale slave trade was enough to supply the demand for slaves within Africa, but not enough to supply the demand from outside particularly from Europeans thus warfare and raids to get slaves and the kidnapping of individuals increased. Europeans wanted to buy enslaved Africans to work on the land they owned on the Caribbean islands and in the Americas. They were a more plentiful source of labour than indentured servants. It is possible that Muslims were amongst the 20 Africans brought to the settlement at Jamestown Virginia in 1619.
For the thousands of Muslims that were captured and eventually settled in North America maintaining their religion was difficult and often impossible. Many were forcibly converted to Christianity. Any effort to practice Islam or keep their traditional names or clothing was quashed and had to be done in secret. However evidence of Muslim origins can be found throughout documented history. Handwritten verses from the Quran have been found and reveal the high levels of education attained by the authors in Africa prior to enslavement. It is known that slave masters often placed Muslim slaves as supervisors over their fellow bondsmen. In addition to this Muslim names can be found in reports of runaway slaves and among the rosters of soldiers in the American war of Independence.
In 1984 the noted scholar of antebellum black writing and history Dr. Allan D. Austin published a book called African Muslims in Antebellum America: A Sourcebook. It explores, via portraits, documents, maps, and texts, the lives of 50 Muslim Africans caught in the slave trade between 1730 and 1860. This book was updated and republished in 1997 and entitled African Muslims in Antebellum America: Transatlantic Stories and Spiritual Struggles. What follows are several brief biographies or snapshots of some of the Muslims captured and enslaved in the then fledgling nation of the USA.
Job Ben Solomon was born Ayyub ibn Sulayman ibn Ibrahim around 1702 in what is now Senegal. He was from a family of religious scholars, and by age 15 was a co-Imam with his father. While on a trading expedition, Job was captured in enemy territory and sold to the British. He was then sold on to work in the tobacco fields of Maryland. He did not convert to Christianity but prayed openly and adhered to Islamic dietary guidelines. Job ran away from his plantation only to be captured and put in jail and later returned to his master. Filled with sadness he wrote a letter to his father and this letter found its way into the hands of a British philanthropist named James Oglethorpe. This man helped free Job who then started his journey home via England. On the ship journey to England Job was taught to write English and whilst in England he wrote the Quran three times from memory, and is reported to have helped with the famous George Sale translation. He called people to Islam by refuting their claims of Jesus’ divinity and was also elected to the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, which may have put him in the company of Sir Isaac Newton and Alexander Pope.
The story of Yarrow Mamout has been bequeathed to us via conversations he had with the artist painting his portrait. His life in Africa is unknown but due to his good and well-mannered behaviour he was freed after laying the bricks for his master’s home. As a free man he bought his own home in Georgetown and was known for praying in the streets and for his sobriety.
In December of 1807, a man known as S’Quash was brought to South Carolina. He was known to be an excellent horseman and literate in Arabic. Historians point to his marriage to a Muslim slave from Sudan to indicate that he was also a Muslim.
God tells us in the Quran that the inhabitants of the fire and the inhabitants of the garden are not alike. It is those who live in the garden that are the achievers, they are the successful ones. A good end that culminates in an eternal home of bliss is the reward for a successful life. How then do we define a successful life? Is it riches beyond compare, or perhaps good health, some might argue it is happiness or a stress free existence. Just how does Islam define success?
Google defines success as the accomplishment of an aim or a purpose. It says that its opposite is failure; failure to accomplish the aim or purpose. In these times we are inclined to think of success as a spacious house, an overseas holiday or fame. People work hard for these small successes and they are not to be trivialised however such success is transient. As the saying goes, you can’t take it with you and Islam tells us, the only things you can take with you to the grave are your deeds. Prophet Muhammad said, “Three things follow the dead person to his grave, two of which return and one of which remains with him. His family, money and deeds accompany him [to the grave], then his family and wealth return, and his deeds stay with him. “[1]
“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only a deceiving thing.” (Quran 3:185)
In his traditions Prophet Muhammad tells us that, the one who has accepted Islam is successful, the one who has been provided with sufficient for his wants and is content with what God has given him is successful.[2] Submitting to the will of God makes a person successful. This does not necessarily mean that one is rich or healthy or even constantly happy.
With the acceptance of Islam comes great responsibility, we are now responsible for our own happiness and for our own success. And success, as we are beginning to discover is the ultimate prize. If we are judged successful Paradise becomes our eternal abode; health, wealth and happiness now become eternal. Success in Islam is defined as achieving the ultimate result, or Paradise. Whatever success we achieve along the way whether it is financial, health related or a satisfying lifestyle is finite. It will come to an end.
The Arabic word for success is falah, it is a word that Muslims of all ethnicities are familiar with. They hear it every day in the call to prayer. “…hayya ‘alal-falah!” Hurry to success. Come to prayer, come to success. This is what the words of the call are saying to the believers. You will find success in the prayer, in maintaining your connection to God. Interestingly the same root fa-la-ha gives us the Arabic word for farmer - fallah. How do we know if a farmer is successful? He has abundant crops and healthy livestock. But the farmer has very little control over his efforts and his labour; he plants the seeds, tills the soil, and tends to his livestock. Then however he must put his trust in God, for he has no control over the weather. His success as a farmer is determined by God’s power over all things. Floods and drought, winds and rain, even his own health and the health of his plants and livestock could affect his success.
Could we then say that the definition of success includes putting one's trust in God? Make an effort, do what is required and leave the outcome to God. Prophet Muhammad explains to the believers that all their affairs are amazing. He said, “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.”[3] Thus when one devotes his life to pleasing God by submitting to His will, this saying takes on even more layers of meaning. Completely trusting God means that there is no failure. Thus minor setbacks and difficulties are just a small glitch on the road to ultimate success.
What about outcomes that this worldly life considers to be failures. What if you lose your livelihood, or your spouse? What if you are not recognised as the good person you are striving to be. None of this has the least bit of influence on whether or not you are ultimately successful. What is taken into account is how you react and how you face life’s challenges. A person is successful and on the road to the ultimate success because of his attitude, his intention, and his ability to trust God's promise.
“He will indeed be successful who purifies his ownself, and he will indeed fail who corrupts his ownself.” (Quran 91:9-10)
“And my success cannot come from any source besides God. I have put my trust in Him.” (Quran 11:88)
God tells us throughout the Quran when we are successful and how to be successful. He also tells us when we are failing, when we are in fact loosing or in loss. In chapter 103 of the Quran, God Almighty swears by time that all of us are losers unless we do four things; believe, do good, teach each other the truth and encourage one another to be patient.
“By Al-Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.” (Quran 103)
In part 2 we will look at the various ways to achieve success. Remember that it is the ultimate success that we are striving for and God Himself, through the Quran and the noble life of Prophet Muhammad, has given us the real recipe for success.
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
Beliefs Of Islam Islam Facts For Kids Pictures About Religion Wikipedia And History And Beliefs Worksheet On Women Today And Information Images Wallpapers
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