Milestones in the History of Islam in Eritrea

Ismael Ibrahim Mukhtar

Oct 2023 · FriesenPress

About this ebook

Milestones in the History of Islam in Eritrea is an attempt to explore the key markers of the Eritrean Islamic history. The book surveys the impacts of the early Muslim migrants, the rise of the Dahlak Sultanate, the aftereffects of the advances of Imam Ahmed Gragn, the Ottoman conquest, the emergence of the semi-autonomous Naib dynasty and the spread of Islam among the Beja tribes. The book also discusses the pivotal roles of the religious families and Sufi orders, the effects of King Yohannes IV forced conversion edict and the colonial occupation. It concludes with a discussion on the rise of Islamic institutions and the adverse impacts of the dissolution of the UN Federal Act.

About the author

Ismael Ibrahim Mukhtar was born and raised in Eritrea. Currently, he resides in Canada. He is a writer with a particular interest in Islamic history. In 2021, he published his first book, titled, Manitoba Muslims: A history of Resilience and Growth, focusing on the history of Muslims in the province of his residence in Canada. Along the same theme, this second book is focused on the history of Islam in his native Eritrea. Mukhtar is a board member of various Canadian and Eritrean organizations. He is a regular speaker and writer on Eritrean and Muslim issues. Mukhtar holds a management degree from the University of Manitoba and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.

With this book, Mukhtar seeks to shed light on some over shadowed aspects of Eritrean history and foster a more inclusive understanding.