Five pillars of Islam in Latin America
Introduction
According to the Islamic organization for Latin America and the Caribbean (OIPALC), the arrival of the first Muslims to the region dates from the fifteenth century. The Spanish conquerors brought among their slave crews of the North and West of Africa, with great influence of Islam, who initially installed in the regions of the current Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Islands of the Caribbean, many were forced to renounce their beliefs,whereby Islam does not prosper.
Developing
At the end of the 16th century, a new wave of immigrants, particularly from India and Pakistan arrived in the region, which in many cases and due to the non -existence of freedom of worship, saw their possibility of practicing their religion freely. By the end of the 18th century, a new current of Muslims, particularly from the regions of Syria and Lebanon, arrived in the region, mostly settling in the regions of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia and Paraguay, where Muslims from Bangladesh also arrived, Pakistanand Palestine.
Current of Islam in South America.
Currently South America has approximately 2.6 million followers of Islam. According to the Islamic organization for Latin America and the Caribbean, 50% of the total of the followers of Islam are native converts, (Dra. Vitoria Peres, argues that they are not more than 1%), distributed throughout the region. Among the various countries, the Islamic community is very varied.
Source: self made
The largest Islamic organization in Latin America, is located in Buenos Aires-Argentina, as well as the largest mosque/temple in the continent, the Rey Fahd Islamic Cultural Center, opened on September 25, 2000, with a budget of about 30millions of dollars, provided by the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. The land of about 34,000 m² was donated by former president Carlos Menem Argentino, after a visit to Saudi Arabia.
The future of Islam in Latin America
Unlike what happens in the rest of the world, where Islam is expected%. The slow growth of Islam in South America, both the present and the planThose that stand out:
- Limited number of followers. Currently the number of Muslims in South America is approximately 0.14% of the total Muslims in the world, while in Europe it is 4.9%.
- Lack of migration to the region. It is expected that while in the world, Islam will grow 73% by the year 2050, in Latin America this growth will only be 13%.
- Low conversion rate to Islam. It is estimated that, of the total of Muslims in South America, only 1% are converts.
- Low birth rate/generational replacement (children per woman) of Muslims in Latin America. While the average rate of Muslims in the world is 4.74, in Latin America it is 2 to 3.
- Idiosyncrasy of Latin.
conclusion
As one of the characteristics of Islam, religious rigor (not extremism) is established, to meet the various demands (pray 5 times a day, fast, go to the mosque, visit MECA, do not drink alcohol, etc.). Such a situation requires great discipline by his faithful, to fulfill the mandates of his sacred book, which in many cases contrasts to the idiosyncrasy of the Latin, with a critical spirit, always willing to poleminate and/or discuss whyof things, without accepting the simple imposition of ideas, whatever these are.
Leave feedback