Introduction to Main Religions in Northern Africa A large majority of the population of Northern Africa practices the religion of Islam. Nearly 95% of the population of Northern Africa is said to practice the religion of Islam. North Africa is home to the three largest Muslim populations in the world: Egypt (79 million), Algeria (34 million), and Morocco (32 million). The percentage breakdown of religious affiliations is depicted on the chart shown to the right. There is a small percentage of people in North Africa who currently practice Christianity but Islam is still the main religion that is practiced among the majority of people.
This is Al-Azhar, a mosque in Islamic Cairo. This is a major symbol of the Sunnis faith in Egypt. By Daniel Mayer used under CC BY-NC.
Sunni Islam There are different branches of Islam. The main branch of Islam in Northern Africa is Sunni Islam. The people who practice Sunni Islam believe and follow the original teachings of Muhammad. They believe that after Muhammads death, a new leader was not chosen by Muhammad so they elected a new leader. Sunnis have time for prayer five times a day. Sunnis believe in seven articles of faith which include: belief in the Oneness of God, the angels, the Sacred Scriptures, the messengers of God, the Last Day, destiny coming from God whether it be good or bad, and resurrection after death. They follow strictly to the tradition of the Prophet.
Two Shiites in Mali, 1974. By H. Grobe used under CC BY-NC
Shia Islam There is a much smaller population of Shiites than Sunnis. Shiites believe that after Muhammads death, they were to follow Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad. Shiites have three separate prayer times during the day. Shia Islam is based on the Quran. Shiite Muslims are guaranteed paradise if they obey the teachings of Muhammad and the twelve Imams.
Muslim Prayer Ritual
Men and women during Friday prayer in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. By The Egyptian Liberal used under CC BY-NC.
Egyptian Islamic Revival During the 1970s all the way up until the 1990s, there was a large religious revival of Islam that spread throughout Egypt. More and more people outwardly expressed their faith and practiced a public expression of their religion. This gave the ground work for a religious revival for the rest of the Muslim world. Many social groups supported men and women to attend Islamic study groups to further their religious studies and practices. This changed the social aspect of Egypt, affecting the roles of men and women in society.
Citations Bayat, M. "Sunnis and Shiites" National Council for the Social Studies., 14 Feb. 1994. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. Warmington, B. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 May. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.