Book Description

History of the Muslims in Belize is an excellent pioneering work which traces the historical background and development of the Muslims in Belize, Central America. As a chronological account of "how it all started" the book states that Islam was introduced into Belize through the missionary work of those few who had earlier embraced the teachings of the Nations of Islam that then reared its head in many communities in the Americas, mostly areas populated largely by the "Afro-American" communities. In their struggle for emancipation, Muslims in this part of the Caribbean got yet another chance-a volte face-as the book goes on to say that despite their acceptance of the Nations of Islam's teachings which centres on the "superiority" of the Black race and "Blackman is the original man" it wasn't long when these types of doctrines were discarded by the Muslims in Belize with their entry into the mainstream or rather orthodox Islam. According to the book, the community is a vibrant Muslim community. In fact it has a mosque-Masjid al-Falah-permanently built that ended the movement of the faithful from rented rooms and apartments. In 1978 the Muslims got the community incorporated and registered under the Government of Belize as the Islamic Mission of Belize which now has a school, the Muslim Community Primary School [formerly Sister Clara Muhammad School] that lays one of the contributions undoubtedly the community is making to the value system of Belize. From a relatively small and obscured community to arguably an organised one, Muslims are growing in Belize with much conviction; for their "new" found faith has ushered them into the circle of the over 400,000 Muslims scattered across the nations of the Caribbean. This book offers also an array of discussions of the major aspects of today's contemporary issues as they affect the history of the Muslims. Muslims in Belize is an excellent companion to read for readers concern with the history of Muslims in this remarkably important English-speaking country in Central America, called Belize.