Muslims in the Americas
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Diouf
According to Diouf, Muslim customs remained among West African slaves in America because of their great devotion to their Islamic faith, which they considered vital to their identity. African Muslims had a strong belief in their religion that caused them to assert themselves as such even in dangerous conditions as Ayuba Suleyman Diallo reveals. Unlike non-Muslim Africans who were more open to conversion, Muslims were frequently religious warriors who had battled for Islam in Africa and were therefore hesitant to renounce their faith. However, in Catholic areas, they were sometimes forced to wear visible Christian symbols or risk being reprimanded and persecuted. As a result, and according to the Comte de Gobineau, the French minister in Brazil, many began practising pseudoconversion, while secretly retaining their Islamic beliefs. In summary, Diouf believes that the fundamental reason Muslims have been able to keep their practices is the remarkable strength of their faith. This faith, which can be regarded as a genuine profession of religion was vital in their resistance. Because of their profound comprehension and knowledge of their beliefs, these slaves were able to endure the most terrible difficulties and survive in a very hostile environment, passing on their knowledge from generation to generation. Muslim slaves were also deeply committed to Islam, and its five pillars one of the most demanding of which was Ramadan. Indeed, despite their horrible living conditions and already limited nourishment many slaves chose to take part in Ramadan. Even if the Quran permitted them to refrain due to their circumstances, they considered fasting as a way of preserving their faith and identity. This also shows that they considered their stay permanent and consequently refused to give up, despite the numerous difficulties, showing a deep capacity for spiritual endurance.
GhaneaBassiri
Focusing solely on biographies in the history of Islam in America is inaccurate as this represents only a small proportion of the African Muslims transported as slaves. These biographical descriptions, which often focus on exceptional individuals such as the ‘slave princes’, can arouse interest. However, they limit the narrative to anecdotes rather than broader narratives. Even though thousands of enslaved African Muslims lived in colonial America, most of them are absent from these accounts. To avoid these biases, biographies need to be combined with other types of historical analysis. As GhaneaBassiri points out, "Examining historical evidence from the African regions where slaves were purchased, alongside American sources that identify slaves by African names or Muslim origins, provides a more comprehensive understanding. Sources such as runaway slave advertisements or slave ledgers help contextualize the broader experiences of early Muslims in America" (p. 16). This can help broaden the perspective and offer a more complete picture of the history of Muslims in America.