Servants of Allah: African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas, 15th Anniversary Edition

Servants of Allah presents a history of African Muslims, following them from West Africa to the Americas. Although many assume that what Muslim faith they brought with them to the Americas was quickly absorbed into the new Christian milieu, as Sylviane A. Diouf demonstrates in this meticulously-researched, groundbreaking volume, Islam flourished during slavery on a large scale. She details how, even while enslaved, many Muslims managed to follow most of the precepts of their religion. Literate, urban, and well-traveled, they drew on their organization, solidarity and the strength of their beliefs to play a major part in the most well-known slave uprisings. But for all their accomplishments and contributions to the history and cultures of the African Diaspora, the Muslims have been largely ignored. Servants of Allah —a Choice 1999 Outstanding Academic Title—illuminates the role of Islam in the lives of both individual practitioners and communities, and shows that though the religion did not survive in the Americas in its orthodox form, its mark can be found in certain religions, traditions, and artistic creations of people of African descent. This 15th anniversary edition has been updated to include new materials and analysis, a review of developments in the field, prospects for new research, and new illustrations. It Is Widely Assumed That The Faith Enslaved West African Muslims Brought To The Americas Was Quickly Absorbed Into Their New Christian Milieu. Yet, As Sylviane A. Diouf Demonstrates In This Meticulously Researched, Groundbreaking Volume, Islam Flourished During Slavery On A Large Scale. Even While Enslaved, Many Muslims Managed To Follow Most Of The Precepts Of Their Religion. Often Literate, Urban, And Well-traveled, They Drew On Their Organization, Solidarity, And The Strength Of Their Beliefs To Play A Major Part In The Most Well-known Slave Uprisings. But For All Their Accomplishments And Contributions To The History And Cultures Of The African Diaspora, The Muslims Have Been Largely Ignored. Servants Of Allah Illuminates The Role Of Islam Both In The Lives Of Individual Practitioners And In Communities. It Shows That Though The Religion Did Not Survive In Its Orthodox Form, Its Mark Can Be Found In Certain Religions, Traditions, And Artistic Creations Of People Of African Descent. This Fifteenth-anniversary Edition Has Been Updated To Include New Materials And Analysis, A Review Of Developments In The Field, Prospects For New Research, And Illustrations. (back Cover). Machine Generated Contents Note: 1.african Muslims, Christian Europeans, And The Transatlantic Slave Trade -- 2.upholding The Five Pillars Of Islam In A Hostile World -- 3.the Muslim Community -- 4.literacy: A Distinction And A Danger -- 5.resistance, Revolts, And Returns To Africa -- 6.the Muslim Legacy. Sylvanie A. Diouf. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Illuminates how African Muslims drew on Islam while enslaved, and how their faith ultimately played a role in the African Disapora Servants of Allah presents a history of African Muslims, following them from West Africa to the Americas. Although many assume that what Muslim faith they brought with them to the Americas was quickly absorbed into the new Christian milieu, as Sylviane A. Diouf demonstrates in this meticulously-researched, groundbreaking volume, Islam flourished during slavery on a large scale. She details how, even while enslaved, many Muslims managed to follow most of the precepts of their religion. Literate, urban, and well-traveled, they drew on their organization, solidarity and the strength of their beliefs to play a major part in the most well-known slave uprisings. But for all their accomplishments and contributions to the history and cultures of the African Diaspora, the Muslims have been largely ignored. Servants of Allah—a Choice 1999 Outstanding Academic Title—illuminates the role of Islam in the lives of both individual practitioners and communities, and shows that though the religion did not survive in the Americas in its orthodox form, its mark can be found in certain religions, traditions, and artistic creations of people of African descent. This 15th anniversary edition has been updated to include new materials and analysis, a review of developments in the field, prospects for new research, and new illustrations. __Servants of Allah__ presents a history of African Muslims, following them from West Africa to the Americas. Although many assume that what Muslim faith they brought with them to the Americas was quickly absorbed into the new Christian milieu, as Sylviane A. Diouf demonstrates in this meticulously-researched, groundbreaking volume, Islam flourished during slavery on a large scale. She details how, even while enslaved, many Muslims managed to follow most of the precepts of their religion. Literate, urban, and well-traveled, they drew on their organization, solidarity and the strength of their beliefs to play a major part in the most well-known slave uprisings. But for all their accomplishments and contributions to the history and cultures of the African Diaspora, the Muslims have been largely ignored. __Servants of Allah__—a __Choice__ 1999 Outstanding Academic Title—illuminates the role of Islam in the lives of both individual practitioners and communities, and shows that though the religion did not survive in the Americas in its orthodox form, its mark can be found in certain religions, traditions, and artistic creations of people of African descent. This 15th anniversary edition has been updated to include new materials and analysis, a review of developments in the field, prospects for new research, and new illustrations. It is widely assumed that the faith enslaved West African Muslims brought to the Americas was quickly absorbed into their new Christian milieu. Yet, as the author demonstrates in this book, Islam flourished during slavery on a large scale. Even while enslaved, many Muslims managed to follow most of the precepts of their religion. Often literate, urban, and well-traveled, they drew on their organization, solidarity, and the strength of their beliefs to play a major part in the most well-known slave uprisings. But for all their accomplishments and contributions to the history and cultures of the African diaspora, the Muslims have been largely ignored. This book illuminates the role of Islam both in the lives of individual practitioners and in communities. It shows that though the religion did not survive in its orthodox form, its mark can be found in certain religions, traditions, and artistic creations of people of African descent. This fifteenth-anniversary edition has been updated to include new materials and analysis, a review of developments in the field, prospects for new research, and illustrations. -- Description from back cover Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction to the 15th Anniversary Edition 12 1 African Muslims, Christian Europeans, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 31 2 Upholding the Five Pillars of Islam in a Hostile World 82 3 The Muslim Community 110 4 Literacy: A Distinction and a Danger 170 5 Resistance, Revolts, and Returns to Africa 221 6 The Muslim Legacy 262 Notes 296 Select Bibliography 326 Index 338 A 338 B 339 C 340 D 341 E 341 F 342 G 342 H 343 I 343 J 344 K 344 L 344 M 345 N 346 O 346 P 346 Q 347 R 347 S 348 T 349 U 349 V 349 W 350 Y 350 Z 350 About the Author 352 Content: Acknowledgments Introduction to the 15th Anniversary Edition 1 African Muslims, Christian Europeans, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2 Upholding the Five Pillars of Islam in a Hostile World 3 Th e Muslim Community 4 Literacy: A Distinction and a Danger 5 Resistance, Revolts, and Returns to Africa 6 The Muslim Legacy Notes Select Bibliography Index About the Author