Islamonline has a very extensive article about the history and current challenges facing Liberia’s Muslim community. With much of the world’s attention presently focused on this troubled Western African nation, I was curious to learn a little more about how our fellow Muslims fare today in Liberia.
A Strong Community in a Challenging Position
Liberia’s Muslims make up around a quarter of the country’s total population of 3 million inhabitants. Of the remainder, 10% are Christians and 65% are Pagans or members of other religions. Despite numbering 750,000 Liberia’s Muslims have had a hard time establishing themselves, as the Muslim tribes are among Liberia’s poorest and the community suffers a lack of facilities, especially when it comes to education.
The Muslim World League has established only one three-floor public school dedicated to teaching the Qur’an and the Arabic language. Most of the other schools are run by Christian missionaries, which require pupils to embrace Christianity in order to receive free enrolment. In the Liberian capital Monrovia, the 15,000 Muslims that live there have only 5 Mosques, in comparison to the 43 churches.
Help from Friends and Neighbours
The Liberian economy is largely controlled by Western powers, especially the US, but Muslim conditions have improved in recent years, thanks to support from neighbouring countries such as Guinea and Sierra Leone, both of which have Muslim majorities.
Powerful Muslim leaders have also lent a hand to try and boost resources for Liberia’s Islamic community, including Muhammad Kromah, head of the Union of American-Liberian Associations.
A Ray of Hope
Liberia’s Muslims have installed two Islamic organizations in Monrovia: The Arabic Organization for Studies, which helps inform non-Muslims about Islam and promotes mutual cultural understanding.
The community has also set up The Islamic Organization for Education, which has established two centres for educating imams in the capital, teaching the Noble Qur’an and Arabic to new converts, and providing them with new sources of income wherever possible.
Let’s hope these are the first of many steps towards a better life for our fellow Muslims in Liberia.
“To the patient man will come all the riches of the world.” – Liberian Proverb.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
dear sirs,
i have read about the moslim community about the situation of my brothers and sisters i feel very sorrow how they are surfiving in this days special after the war. i am thinking about this terriable matter will see and do my best when the time will reach for me to see how i can help them iensallah. patient is a great thing in our religion one day will come then allah will help my brothers and sisters.
may allah bless you there in liberia allah is with you all.
kind regards
Sheikh Moh, Anwar Ali Khan Joemman Khan
Assalamualaikum,
I’d served in Liberia 2006/2007 as a UNMIL MILOBs. As a muslim ,I’m very touched with the hardship our borthers and sisters in Liberia. It may not that obvious in Monrovia, but I just let leave my heart crying and pray that the situation would be improved. Where had the Muslim NGOs gone? What happened to our former rich Muslim NGO. Can we just leave it to the so called Muslim organization such as Ahmadiah?
Whre is the nearest mosque at Tappeta, is it at Ganta which is 90km from tapetta. What happened to Tappeta mosque? Because there are small number of Muslim live there? Wahat happened to our Muslim brother and sisters at Monia? or why nobody assist Kangba E Cole Arabic and English School somewhere at Kakata. Why rich Islamic country keeping quiet. Even those country giving help previously such as Libya, now in the eve of destruction by western power. Who will help Liberian Muslim now. Muslim NGOs please help.
Wasslam
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh may Allah help us and our rilegion