Street News Service

Arjen de Boer
January 9, 2006

This is not a story about terrorism. Neither is it a tale of fundamentalism. Car bombs and jihad, the holy Muslim war, belong to a different theatre in the world thousands of kilometers from Windhoek and other Namibian towns. Here is a story of the attraction some Namibians experience when it comes to Islam, a religion taking hold in a basically overwhelmingly Christian country.

The number of Muslims could be seen like an apple hanging in a tree crowded with pears. According to estimates there are approximately close to seventy thousand Muslims in Namibia since the religion set foot on this country's dry grounds many decades ago. But according to 22-year-old Muslim Azi Kazombiaze the figure should be much, much lower. "Maybe a few hundred, maybe a thousand." A fellow Muslim overhearing the conversation disagrees: "There are probably thousands of Muslims. There are mosques in Windhoek, Oshakati, Katima Mulio, Walvis Bay." Azi then remembers a survey which mentioned the number five thousand. Both are sure of one thing though, the amount of Muslims is 'steadily but surely' growing.

It is a Friday afternoon, the Muslim holy day. Prayer has just ended on this special day of remembrance when Muslims celebrate the ascension of their prophet Mohammed through the seven heavens to join Allah. Outside the mosque of the Windhoek Islamic Centre on Sam Nujoma Avenue it is buzzing with activity. Men stand in front of the entrance, some normally dressed in pants and shirts, others more formal in the traditional Islamic wardrobe, the thowb; a white robe that almost reaches the ground. Azi is wearing a white one and while he explains why he converted to Islam he chooses his words carefully. It was the clarity in the texts that attracted him, the beauty of the content and the style of writing. Attending Grade 11, he converted in 2000 after speaking to a friend who already was a Muslim. "I asked him questions and read literature. At the time I was studying Christianity as well as Islam and it came to me to embrace Islam."

When asked why thousands of Namibians choose Islam as their religion, he stipulates the unity and brotherhood of Muslims all over the world. Wherever, whenever, across the world the same holy book is used and the same language spoken during prayer. "It is a perfect way of life. Islam is Islam. Although my parents had to get used to it, they now respect my choice. But it came as a bit of a shock. Never did they imagine that Islam could change a person so much. Young Muslims are not like other teenagers that go out partying. We don't smoke, nor drink alcohol and don't get into trouble. Here at the Islamic Centre there are even some men who converted in prison and now they are on the good path."

"I wanted the right religion," explains fellow Muslim Abdullah Aziz Sayman. A Capetonian told the now 30-year-old about the prophet Mohammed and the religion of one God instead of the holy trinity - God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost - that Christians pray to. "At first I just listened while he told me that Muslims eat Halaal food [food slaughtered and prepared in a prescribed fashion]. What he told me and what I saw made me happy in my heart. It was all so nice." But like Azi's parents, Abdullah's father and mother stood in awe of their son's choice. They had no knowledge at all about Islam. Their opinion has changed over the years as their son explained the religion to them.
But there remains widespread ignorance about Islam in the Namibian society, says 22-year-old Azi, who is originally from Katutura. He has studied Islam in the holy Saudi Arabian city of Medina for four years.

Imam Ali, prayer leader and member of the Namibia Islamic Center, agrees. In his office at the Quba Mosque he explains how Islam in Namibia goes way back to the olden days. The oldest Namibian Muslim known as 'Uncle' Selmon passed away last year at the age of eighty; almost the same time Islam has been in Namibia when South African Muslims settled in Namibia. Now there are "seven or eight" mosques all over Namibia, of which three are in the capital. The religion attracts followers from all walks of life. "Islam is based on logic, mentality, mathematics. Two plus two gives the same answer: four. Everywhere in the world, and it does not matter if we are friends or fed up with each other. This religion is based on wisdom; it is very simple to accept, says Imam Ali." The imam from Iran who has been stationed in Namibia for three years elaborates further on the attractions of Islam: "Muslims are very sociable, peaceful, and display good behavior, it is kind with other religions and the followers are helpful."

Although the prayer leader mentions all these positive aspects, it remains unclear why the number of Namibian Muslims is still relatively small. "Because this number in eighty years is not much," the Imam concludes. In his view there are certain reasons why Muslims remain such a small minority. "Maybe it has something to do with the ignorance in Namibia about Islam and also the economy. Many Namibians are daily trying to make a living therefore lack time to decide which religion they want. Equally, the unjust propaganda against Islam appears conti-nuously in the media. And finally; the South African Muslims that came to Namibia did not practice Islam as established by Prophet Mohammed. Most of the ladies do not wear head scarves, some of the Muslims do not fast nor practice their daily prayers."

Like in Christianity it is custom in Islam to go out and spread the holy word. But in Namibia this only happens through the mosques. The Muslim community does not have media like newspapers, magazines or airtime on radio to voice their beliefs. Why then does the Muslim community, if it wants to be known, not establish its own mouthpiece? "A good question," answers Imam Ali. He mentions that starting a magazine costs money and for that the community needs help from Muslim businessmen. "But they probably think of their own pockets first before thinking of others."

But there are other ways. Like a public lecture, for instance. Young Muslim Azi hands out a pamphlet inviting Muslims and all who are interested to attend a meeting on the topic 'Does Islam denounce terrorism?' at the University of Namibia. At the bottom it states, "It will be the perfect opportunity to present the true and authentic picture of Islam and thus clearing the good name of Islam of the stigma of terrorism currently and globally being associated with Muslims and Islam by the enemies of Islam...' Interesting and highly necessary, Azi thinks. But he won't be able to make it and discuss the matter. The Herero who turned Muslim has a plane to catch, back to the holy city of Medina, back to his studies.
 

Source : http://www.streetnewsservice.org/index.php?page=print&articleID=550
Reprinted from The Big Issue Namibia
© Street News Service: www.street-papers.org