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King Muhammad becomes king of Songhai by overthrowing King Sunni Ali. King Muhammad declares Islam to be their state religion. Non-Muslims are encouraged to convert. The number of Muslims increase, making it one of the most powerful empires of Africa.
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Mansa Musa, a Muslim ruler, makes the pilgrimage to Mecca. On his return he brings back books and Muslim scholars. This prompted the building of mosques and universities.
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Trade and Islam scholars settle in Timbuktu. The scholars spoke and wrote in Arabic and helped teach the new language to the West African tribes. The Qur'an became a very important part of Muslim life in West Africa.
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As Arab merchants arrive, they teach the people about Islam. Many officials and merchants convert to Islam and in return mosques are built. Many people converted to Islam because they were impressed with its teachings and encouraged peaceful trades between nations.
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North Africa is conquered by Arab invaders. Islam spreads throughout Ghana and influenced the culture of ancient Ghana. Muslim merchants from the Sahara also brought their faith and teachings to Ghana.
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Islam expands into Tunisia under the reign of Muslim Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan. Under his reign, Islam began to spread through North Africa and expanded into Nigeria.
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Muslim troops took over what is currently now Egypt, and conquered Libya shortly after.
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Most of the Muslims who migrated out of Medina returned. Others settled in the neighboring part of Zeila.
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The Muslims leave Medina and migrate to Abyssinia to escape persecution from the Makkans. 23 Muslims migrated and were protected by its king, Negus who later accepted Islam. This event is known as the hijrah or migration.
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The expansion of Islam in Africa led to the formation of new communities in Africa and established existing African empires to be based on Islamic models. In the middle of the 11th century, the Kanem Empire to Islam. At the same time but more toward West Africa, the reigning ruler of the Bornu Empire also converted to Islam.
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By the beginning of the 19th century, a religious revival began in East Africa. Wealthy Muslim landowners and traders united to build a larger Muslim presence. They built mosques, schools, and libraries filled with manuscripts. Over the course of a few decades, East Africa became the home of Ismaili and Sufi communities, and attracted prominent Ahmadiyya scholars from India.
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A survey taken in 2002, estimated that Muslims make up 48% of the African population. Islam is present in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Sahel, the Swahili Coat and most of West Africa.
