The TRUTH about the origins of Islam in Trinidad

[Musa Millington]

This is simply a response to those who have the belief that Islam first came with the East Indians.

More details of my visit to a living Mandingo descendant who was born as a Muslim on my next post.

http://aa.trinimuslims.com/showthrea...6247#post46247

[BW]

copy/paste of link above

Quote:

The Origins of Islam in Trinidad & Tobago Islam started in Trinidad & Tobago from as early as 1845 with the arrival of indentured labourers from areas of the sub-continent of India: Punjab, United Provinces, Faisabad, Calcutta, Madras, Benares, or Uttar Pradesh, etc. Our ancestors came with little material possessions but with faith. It was their daunting will to succeed that inspired their strong community based culture that promoted unity, kindness, fairness, and respect for each other. The first wave of labourers gave way to greater numbers in the 1870's. They toiled in the fields and practised their respective faiths in the workplace and in their homes until, for the Muslims, Masajid were built. The early ones recorded are Calcutta and Victoria Village. Haji Ruknuddeen Sahib, who later became Qazi and then Shaikul Islam, was the first Imam at Victoria Village, while the late Dookie Meah is reported to have been the first Imam at the Calcutta Masjid. The Calcutta Masjid was the first and it was established in 1863. The land on which the masjid exists today was given to the late Dookie Meah who built this masjid for the muslims and the first ‘panchayat’ system started at that compound soon after. In 1868, the then Governor, in a hand-written document, exempted the first masjid in Calcutta from the payment of rates and taxes. This legal document is honoured by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to this day. Then there was the masjid at Thomas Street in Chaguanas that later played a key role in the history and direction of the Muslim community. The late Sirajuddin Meah played a major role for the ASJA as Imam of that masjid. Iere Village and Realise Road Masajid were two others established late in the 19th Century. They are all active today.

http://www.asjatrinidad.org/

From what is seen on this thread I do not need to make any additional notes on this attempt of historical bigotry.

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[Musa Millington]

This is also from the link:

http://aa.trinimuslims.com/showthrea...6247#post46247

Black crescent: the experience and legacy of African Muslims in the Americas

That book has more detail on the early presence of African Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago. I will put an excerpt from it which will shock you:

"While the Islam introduced by Africans would eventually go into eclipse in Trinidad, the fact remains that the African Muslim presence there constitutes one of the largest, most organized, most vibrant, most enduring, and most influential African Muslim communities in all of the Americas prior to the twentieth century perhaps rivaled only by their co-religionists in Brazil. Their presence and contributions were recognized by East Indian Muslims arrving in Trinidad after 1845, such that in 1946 the esteemed elder Syad Mohammad Hosein recalled that, during his childhood, he had been shown an Arabic Qur'an by a person whose father had received it as a gift from a Mandingo. It does not appear however that African and East Indian Muslims coalesced during the second half of the nineteenth century, when the number of Muslims from both communities would have been significant."

[bigzack]

Father Anthony DeVerteuil was my senior Dean at Fatima College.

I have never doubted his research and teachings.

[shield_2006]

It eh making a page

[Musa Millington]

I think it is important to write about my visit to an old Mandingo lady who was born as a Muslim in the 1930s

She was a descendent of the Africans who served in the British army and were brought to Trinidad around 1816 and set up in different villages between Princes Town and Moruga.

So when I asked her father she said that her father was Muslim and that he used to teach in some of the mosques before he died in the 1950s. However, he never really mixed with the East Indians because in her words they used to worship Muhammad.

And this is somewhat true because if you look at some of the songs (Qaseedas) relating to Prophet Muhammad which are sang by some organizations such as the ASJA one would observe that there are elements of polytheism in it. Like asking him for help, making him an intercessor in this life, seeking refuge with him, asking him for deliverance etc.

Also she told me to not bother about those who put down African Muslims because although there are bad elements a true Muslims is recognized by his actions rather than their ancestry.

And from other history I read the Mandingos were literate in the Arabic language and would actively call others to Islam. Only Allah knows why that between 1890-1910 that the Mandingo community was no longer active.

So to those who see the Indian Muslims as the original Muslims and say that they were doing fine until Africans came into the mix then historically they are incorrect. Rather the African Muslims were the first to establish Islam in Trinidad and what we are seeing with African reverts is simply a renaissance of sorts except that while the Mandingos were focused upon learning and trade may these days are focused upon militancy and revolution.