Many people believe that the first Muslims to come to Trinidad were from India.
Interestingly, there is much evidence to show that Muslims came to the Caribbean much earlier than that. Whether they stayed or not is the true mystery. As Trinidad and Tobago celebrates Indian Arrival Day, join us in uncovering some little known Islamic history.
On May 30th 1845, the Fatel Razack alighted on our tropical shores and approximately 225 East Indian indentured labourers set foot on our lands. Not in their wildest imaginings could they ever have conceived the way they would shape the future of our resilient twin islands, Trinidad and Tobago.
It is a popular misconception that Islam first arrived in the Caribbean with the first indentured labourers. In actuality, the Islamic presence made itself known even before then. Christoper Columbus was said to have had two captains of Muslim origin, and the Europeans were recorded to have brought prisoners for manual labour, many of whom were Moors, ie: Muslims. Many historians have even credited the safe arrival of Columbus to the Americas to maps and navigational information acquired by Spanish Muslims. They were known to have voyaged to the West and specifically to the Caribbean. In his book Before Columbus, Cyrus Gordon describes some 8th-century Islamic coins found close to Venezuela. This and much more compelling evidence would indicate that Islam graced the Caribbean prior to Columbus.
When the African slaves came to Trinidad, one in five of them were of the Muslim faith. They were from Muslim tribes such as the Mandinka, the Fula, the Susu and the Hausa. These slaves were steadfast in their faith, despite the brutalities the Europeans meted out to them in attempts to stamp out their religion. The Europeans resorted to their most effective weapon: the destruction of their families. Even the Mandigo Muslims’ unwavering loyalty could not transcend to a generation that did not know their parents. With their children taken away from them and baptized into another faith, Islam died with the early generations.
The coming of the Fatel Razack sowed the seed of permanence for the religion of Islam in Trinidad and Tobago. The Fath Al Razzaq translates from Arabic to “The Victory of Allah, The Provider.” It is widely known that the ship was named by its Muslim owner, Ibrahim bin Yussef.
With the abolition of slavery, the lives of the indentured labourers should have been easier, especially with respect to maintaining their faith. However, their public gatherings were met with inhumane punishments and numerous attempts to exterminate their beliefs. They were dissociated from the society of their employers and without much opportunity for family life, as well as the intent to return home, their fastidious efforts to hold on to their culture and religion were replenished. They focused their time and effort outside of work hours, establishing prayer areas made of mud and palm leaves with schools attached to them, solely for the teachings of Islam. Aside from gathering specifically for teaching and learning, they held fast to congregating for Friday prayer, Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha, weddings, funerals, and the breaking of the fast.
Through all of these activities, they were able to do what the Mandigos could not: preserve their religion through their children. By the middle of the 1800s alone, there was a sizeable community of Muslims in Port of Spain, Manzanilla and Quaré. When their contracts ended, Trinidad had become the homeland for many Muslims. They immediately built mosques in every district possible. Ennis B. Edmonds writes in Caribbean Religious History: “They were extremely organized socially and financially. One report indicated that the Port of Spain Muslims not only collectively saved to purchase each other’s freedom but also borrowed from one another to finance commercial and agricultural ventures. The Muslim community in Trinidad was probably one of the largest, most successful and most visible in the Americas.”
Islam arrived at our shores, adding to the diversity and rich culture of our beautiful Trinidad and Tobago. Were it not for the efforts of the progressive minds of our ancestors, Trinidad and Tobago, as an accepting and multicultural society, would not exist. Up until today, even though Muslims make up only around 6 per cent of the population, evidence of the Islamic presence can be found anywhere you look. With over 100 mosques, and the superfluous presence of Islamic clothing stores, Islamic book stores, and an abundance of Halaal food, Trinidad boasts a strong Islamic presence.
With nationwide support of Islamic functions, efforts to educate the community about Islam, and even a public holiday for Eid ul Fitr, we have come far from the days when Muslims peacefully gathering for Eid celebrations inspired panic and violence. With the development of Islamic primary and secondary schools, students of all races and religions are now allowed to benefit from both a secular education as well as an in-depth understanding of the religion.
Muslims have long contributed to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago by the establishment of businesses of all types, large and small, even exporting to countries all over the world.
In the field of politics, Muslims have held many different and important governmental positions, not least of all, head of state. The Honourable Noor Hassanali held this position from 1987 to 1997. He was the second president of Trinidad and Tobago and the first Muslim head of state in the entire Western Hemisphere.
Islam has existed alongside other religions and other cultures since its founding days. The rich heritage of the Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago is undeniable. Our African and East Indian ancestors endured unspeakable hardships in order to forge a better life for themselves and their families and over a hundred years later, we are reaping the benefits of their struggles. They came and they made Trinidad and Tobago their home, earning their place in the magnificent history of this beautiful land. But most of all, they have proved to the world that Islam is a religion that flourishes, not only under the hands of kings but through the tribulations of slaves. They will forever remain living proof that Islam is indeed a religion for one and all.
By: Noorie K. Khan