Brazil's Muslim Peoples - background
This is Brazil
Brazil is a vast country with a warm tropical climate and an ethnically varied and hospitable people. Often regarded as the largest Catholic country in the world, Brazil is also the birthplace of many cults from a variety of religious movements. The earliest significant Muslim presence in Brazil was apparently established several centuries ago with the arrival of thousands of black West African Muslim slaves.
The first great Arab immigration took place towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. However, this immigration was composed mainly of Orthodox Christian Arabs from Lebanon and Syria.
The second Arabic wave of immigration arrived about 40 years ago, bringing a large concentration of Muslims. The majority were involved in a variety of small- to large scale commercial activities.
Todays Brazil
Today, Brazil has a population of about 180 million, including several million people from an Arabic background. While most of them are at least nominally Christian, there are several hundred thousand Muslims (including a significant number of illegal aliens). Some estimates suggest that there are possibly over one million Muslims in Brazil, but accurate statistics are unavailable.
The Growth of Islam in Brazil
The first mosque in Brazil was built during the middle of the last century. This one gave rise to many others scattered all over the country. The region of Paran near Paraguay has the largest concentration of Muslims, followed by the city of São Paulo. Indeed, Brazil has become a hub for Islam in Latin America. During the past 30 years, Islam has succeeded in making a place for itself in Brazilian society by building not only mosques, but also libraries, arts centres, and schools and also by funding newspapers.
In addition, conversions to Islam are multiplying, especially among women who marry a Muslim and so take on the religion of their husband when they say their vows. Now, evangelical Christian Brazilians are mobilizing to face the growing Islamic presence, though not in sufficient numbers.
Some missionaries are working full-time to proclaim the Gospel to Muslims. The pressure on missionaries is enormous, particularly in large cities where Muslims have a significant presence. Despite these difficulties, the work is starting to bear fruit. A number of former Muslims have become enthusiastic missionaries. Some are working in Brazil, but some have returned to their homelands as witnesses, despite the threat of persecution and various restrictions.
Prayer for the Muslims of Brazil
* Pray that Brazilian Christians will have a greater desire to know more about Islam and the means of effectively evangelizing Muslims. Christian friendship evangelization seems to be the method which seems to bear the most fruit. Love and appreciation can dissolve the hardest heart.
* Pray for the vital ministry of the full-time missionaries working among Muslims in Brazil.
* Pray that Muslim-background believers will be able to deal with the opposition coming from their families, close relatives and friends while they continue to proclaim the Gospel.
Background on Brazil (World Factbook)
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
Economy of Brazil
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. The currency depreciated sharply in 2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account adjustment; from 2003 to 2006. Brazil's currency and its stock market - Bovespa - have significantly lost value, -41% for Bovespa for the year ending 30 December 2008. However, rapid advances in 2009 including joining the BRIC group see potential for Brazil.
Statistics on Brazil
Population: 198,739,269 (July 2009) World Rank #6
Life Expectancy at Birth: 71.99 years. World Rank #121
Ethnic groups: white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4%
Languages: Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages
Literacy: 88.8%
School Life Expectancy: 14 years
About Islam in Brazil - Video
A video blogger discusses Islam in Brazil.
This seems to be a weapon for the zealots to destroy our beloved Islam. 1.We love Jesus but as a Messenger of God. 2.There is no god worthy of worship but God alone and Muhammad(pbuh) is His messenger. Islam will flourish in Brazil, God willing. May God guide you to truth and may He make Islam more widespread amongst the Brazilian people in a peaceful and harmonious manner. Ameen.
I am a naturalised US Citizen, muslim of Indian origin.
I am coming to Brazil these days on behalf of my company. Hence curious to know about the existence of Islam in Brazil. I am also looking into buying cocoa farms for cultivation.
Best wishes,
Dr. Majeed
Assalamo Alaykum
I wish to marry with brazilian girl and i will come in this year. but i dont know where is the mosq in brazil (sao paoulo). who will help me if i come there can anybody give me address of there. and help me for there for islam. can give address of mosq pls.
this has been so helpful. thankyou !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Samantha
Allah Save our Islam and bless all muslims in Brazil and the world. It is shame that we pray in this way but ater reading the above article and with agreement with Mr Samee Alyacoub I am sure our Islam will prosper. I am a British muslim and tell you that our Islam is protected. I just came form visit in the middle east were churchs are next to mosques for 1400 years. I can not beleive that muslims will convert to Gospels.
Good. It is time for the Protestant missonaries to aid their Catholic brethen in bearing witness to Muslims.
God willing, we will show them the true path to God through Jesus Christ. I will pray from the abundant success of conversions and for Brazil to dig deep into her Christian roots that have converted so many people of other faiths to Salvation under Jesus.
Sameer and Atef, I invite you both to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Thank you very much our brother Straight Talk Luiqi.
Your Jesus Christ is our prophet also. We love him, beleive in him and his miracles and his love for humanity. We only love him in the way our Holy book has revealed to us about him. It is certainley easier for me to undestand Jesus (Issa Almassieh) as one of the prophet from God (Allah) as a saviour for humanity as the many prophets and massengers cam before him and Muhammad who came after him.
I request you to look into You tube website and read many examples how people from other faithes had embraced Isalm. It is their own story. At the end of the day we all humans and all prophets came as help from God to show us the right path.
Atef
Hello All Muslim Brothers & Sisters
I m so glad to see this website and happy to see that now world is confessing that ISLAM is becoming more popular in Brazil. and Brazil is becoming HUB of Islam in Latin America.
I wish someday i visit there and Pray in Brazilian Mosque and Thank to Almighty ALLAH.
ALLAH Bless all of US and world become peaceful place for all of us and our upcoming childerns.
FAROOQ AZAM
Pakistan
Hello All Muslim Brothers & Sisters
Being a Muslim we believe in All Prophets including JESUS (Peace be Upon Him) as a Prophet of Almighty ALLAH. But unfortunately into days some opportunists are creating bad image for MUSLIMS and ISLAM but truth will speak itself and now whole world is seeing that the bad news which was spread by few (So called Super Power Countries ) was wrong they attacked on Muslims under the name of terrorism but infect its not terrorism its reaction of what they are doing in MUSLIM cultures under the name of Democracy and Liberty and Under the name of So Called ( HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS)
If you guys wanna know what is Human Rights and minorities Rights and Government Rights and Citizens Rights Just Study ISLAM.
Our Religion ISLAM already described all this more then 1400 Years back and if you implement this in todays date you will see how successful is this.
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1 Simple Example in Saudi Ariabia the punishment of a thief is cutting off his hands. so you see how much theft cases are reported there ?????
When a criminal will scared of this punishment he will never commit crime. But when criminal knows that if he get cought he will be released after few months or weeks he maybe do same sin after coming out from jail
Now if you say that cutting of hands of thief is violations of human rights then you give solution for preventing of theft cases in other countries.
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IF ISRAEL can have Nuclear Weapons why NOT IRAN ???
Why Not IRAN???? Because its an ISLAMIC country ????
How Foolish thinking is this
On IRAQ these ( So called Super Power Countries ) attacked that there are nuclear and biological weapons. But did they found it ??????
Purpose was just to destabilize the Islamic State which they did and now there are daily killings bomb blasts and so much shits
Anyway Allah Bless all Of US
insha allah afrter sometime the population of muslims in braszil will increase
The so called spread of Catholicism through deception, force and by sword first started in Spain with the expulsion and forced conversion of millions of Spanish Muslims. Then this hate in the name of Jesus spread to the Western Hemisphere. The annihilation of the aboriginal people and slavery of African people in the name of Catholicism is a stain on the history of Christianity. The same nations the perpetuated world wars and took the lives of millions of people and destroyed the environment and today instead of being ashamed of their legacy still try to preach their distored religion through deception and trickery. Shame on the Catholics
Luigi, I accept Jesus as a prophet of God. That being said, I decline your invitation to take Jesus as my Lord and Savior. So in turn, I invite you to Islam. If you love Jesus as you say, then don't worship him,worship the one who sent him.
Assalam o Alaikum my Muslim brother and sisters across the globe and specially in Brazil. Brazilian Muslims you have made us proud by keeping the Islamic faith alive. May Allah bless you and provide you prosperity with having Islam in your heart.
I want to be imam in Brazil.I am islamic teacher in a school in Bangladesh.I can speak,write and read in English and Arabic.I want to devete myself for Islamic preaching.So provide me information.
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah hi wabarakkatuh. Peace be upon to you all brother and sister.
And Wa alaikum salam Abu Bakar & Usman Majeed.
Asalamu Alaykum my dear brothers and sisters in slam. I am a muslim who live in USA and I am very proud muslims in Latin America specially my favor country Brazil. Keep up the good work and may Allah make it easy for you!
Islam will never have a great stronghold presence in Brazil! Do any of you exactly know why?....
1.) Hello everybody this is latin america and if you know the history and culture of this part of the world you will see that christianity has played a tremendous role in the lives of many latin americans! In other words,they are quite attached to christianity and they are simply not going to give it up!
2.) The arab immigrants who have immigrated in the past to brazil have been rapidly assimilated into brazilian culture.More than likely within one to two generations the children as well as the grand-children of the immigrants do not practice the religion and often admit that are of arab christian origin so as to blend in and not stand out from the rest of the majority of the brazilian population. Inter-marriage is extremely common for both men as well as women (which of course we all know is "quote un-quote" a big no,no in islam for muslim women to marry non-muslim men) and don't forget this ever impending factor
3.) Brazilians have a culture that would make most religious practicing muslims frustrated! They love to party,drink and quite regularly ingage in "Zina"illicit sex that is!I've been there several times, I know what Im talking about!.They are a "Dunya"loving culture (concerned about today and not about tomorrow) and will always be!I have meet some couples here in the United States that consist of arab/turkish or Bangladeshi men who marry brazilian women yet I've always said to myself that this kind of union is a very bad match indeed! The conservative religious practicing muslim man will have a head ache to control a brazilian freedom loving woman who will do as she pleases especially when it comes to wearing revealing show what you got sexy body clothing which I repeat is vey common for brazilian women to display when they are out in public.
Islamacize Brazil? You've got to be joking! As the actor Brad Davis once said in his Billy Hayes "Midnight express" character,..You would have easier time teaching a bear to go in the toilet than to turn Brazil into a predominately Muslim country! You what made me mad one day? There are several Brazilian restaurants in my city and I often go to them because I love Brazilian barbecue or otherwise known as "Churrascaria". There was this Turkish waiter who worked there and I asked him the following question?... "How do you like working in this Brazilian restaurant with Brazilian co-workers and you know what he told me? I don't like Brazilians very much because they are not a very religious people. In other words,they just think about today without the excessive "Ahhirrah" mentality that Muslims have when they think that there will consequences through ones sins and actions in this current life time if they do not obey the koran and haddith.
That's why I left islam!
I do not care what people believe in but when you let a religion influence you to the point of telling you who is bad or who is good then it's time to un-brain wash your mind and accept people for who they are even if they do not believe in your silly fairy tale gobble gook religion. Brazilians are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and they know how to live life to the tilt! I couldn't give a rat's what that religious practicing Muslim turk said about them!
a muslim accepting any other religion has secured a passport/VISA to HELL.
I lived in Brazil for six years in Rio de Janeiro and three years in BRASILIA. In RIO there was no regular mosque but in BRASILIA there was a regular mosque.I left Brazil in 1972. A Chair was estblished in Bahia University for muslims in that State. There was a Mathematics Professor who translated QURAN into portuguese language.there was a muslim community centre in Sao Paulo but its activities were limited on account of shortage of funds.anyone who says there is litlle scope for conversion to ISLAM IS misleading. there is no compulsion in ISLAM. INSHA ALLAH when people really understand ISLAM IT WILL be difficult to stop this flood and you will find ISLAM in the whole of BRAZIL.
I am happy to see that ISLAM is prospering in the beautiful country of Brazil. Too bad that people like Kenny convert to another religon due to some comments of a waiter in a Churrascaria.
Anyway all my respects and prayers for those who are making Islam flourish in a country like Brazil.
Kenny, if you´ve left Islam, then your faith was never firm.