Talk:Islam in South Africa

(Too?) many details about the present, not much information with regard to the background (Cape-Malays, Indian immigration) Marriex 14:15, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Articles for Deletion debate
This article survived an Articles for Deletion debate. The discussion can be found here. Owen&times; &#9742;  21:16, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Islam among ethnic groups
I am removing this (incorrectly named) section; the reference web site cannot be accessed without a sign-in, and the fact that one of the population categories is "Mine Kaffir" infers that the data is so old as to be useless. Humansdorpie 18:09, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

Needs an urgent rewrite
''partheid state, the acceptance of Islam has become part of a radical rejection of a society based on Christian principles which are seen as having been responsible for establishing and promoting the Apartheid doctrine through the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. The influence of the radical ideas espoused by Malcolm X is very evident among South African Muslims of all races.''

The above statement is false and uncited. The fact is that the relationship between race groups is not so clear cut. The relationship between black and Muslim Indian people is almost the same as that of black and white people. Many Mosques have two services (one for black and one for Indian members).

Many African (black) Muslim followers are immigrants to South Africa (from other African countries such as Somalia). The relationship between these people and black South Africans is mostly extremely hostile.

During Apartheid black Christian churches also preached "liberation theology". So the above uncited statement is fairly retarded. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 41.19.156.44 (talk) 20:20, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Needs Rewrite
The entire page needs a rewrite. Information is sketchy, not comprehensive (historically and otherwise), outdated in some cases. And, this entry really is not an academic piece. As an example, note the first sentence about Islam "probably" having been in South Africa from precolonial times.

Needs to be added to?
How about having a breakdown of number of muslims by province?

Also read elsewhere that South Africa was the 1st place in the world where a woman lead a prayer (in jamaat). That definately needs mentioning.

As for charitable cause championed under the banner of Islam, how about compiling a list of some sort. Islamic Medical Association is a great example.

If possible a mention of Hanafi and Shafi distribution in South Africa.

Was there not a series of bombings and other forms of violence that were attributed to Muslim Groups or individual Muslims around 1995. I do kind of remember an organisation that was called something against gangs and drugs. A interenal link to a seperate article that would fully expound on this would be highly useful.

A list of Mosques would maybe be welcome as well. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Cape fox (talk • contribs) 21:44, 12 January 2007 (UTC).

How about updating current Muslim population by ethnicity? For example, there has been an influx of Pakistani Muslims and Bangladeshi Muslims as well as Mozambican, Somalian, Malawian and Arab Muslims (North African origin)

Percentage of the population?
How many percent of the South-African poulation is muslim? I didn't find anything about that in the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.196.241.5 (talk) 16:51, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Proposed edit to "Political parties"
I propose that the "Political parties" section be expanded to the following text. I will not make the edit myself because of my declared conflict of interest in the area of South African party politics. - htonl (talk) 09:05, 28 October 2014 (UTC)

"When the first democratic elections took place in April 1994 two Muslim parties emerged, the Africa Muslim Party and the Islamic Party (IP). The AMP took part in the election of the National Assembly as well as the provincial legislatures in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, while the IP contested only the Western Cape provincial legislature. Neither party was able to secure seats in any legislature.

In the 1999 elections the AMP appeared on the ballot for the Western Cape provincial legislature under the title "Africa Moral Party", but did not win any seats.

In the 2004 elections the AMP once again took part in the Western Cape provincial election. The Peace and Justice Congress, which had been formed by floor crossing in 2003, took part in the National Assembly election and the provincial elections in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Neither party won any seats.

A new Muslim party Al Jama-ah took part in the 2009 elections, appearing on the ballot for the National Assembly as well as the KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provincial legislatures. The AMP once again took part in the Western Cape provincial election, while the PJC took part in the Free State and Western Cape provincial elections. None of the parties won any seats.

Al Jama-ah and the AMP campaigned together for the 2014 elections under the Al Jama-ah banner, taking part in the National Assembly election and the provincial election in the Western Cape. The coalition did not win any seats."

Good day Htonl, I see no problem with the wording and will make the edit, but we first need more sources, I will start looking for some more today, any other that you have would be much appreciated. I would prefer to have sources for things like first and second paragraphs. --DSBennie (talk) 15:15, 21 November 2014 (UTC)


 * Good point. I will work in some sources. - htonl (talk) 15:54, 21 November 2014 (UTC)

Polygamy
This article incorrectly states that polygamy is legal in South Africa, it is in fact illegal, African customary marriages and Islamic marriages are not marriages under South African law but are instead traditional unions and are handled as separate from marriage law. If someone has something else to say on this matter please do, otherwise I will reword the article if their are no objections in a day or two. --DSBennie (talk) 15:12, 21 November 2014 (UTC)


 * That statement used to be true, but at least as far as African customary marriages it isn't so any more. Section 2 of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 provides that:

"(1) A marriage which is a valid marriage at customary law and existing at the commencement of this Act is for all purposes recognised as a marriage.

(2) A customary marriage entered into after the commencement of this Act, which complies with the requirements of this Act, is for all purposes recognised as a marriage."


 * (Emphasis mine.) The following paragraphs make it clear that polygynous marriages are included.


 * The Muslim Marriages Bill is, however, still tied up in politics so Muslim marriages aren't recognized. (Some imams have been certified by Home Affairs as marriage officers, but still they can't legally certify polygamous marriages.) - htonl (talk) 15:54, 21 November 2014 (UTC)

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