The Final Call

The West’s real problem in Africa is Islam

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: May 12, 2015 - 8:28:01 AM

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Abdul Akbar Muhammad, international representative for the Nation of Islam

WASHINGTON - “The tremendous growing Muslim population and the growing strength of Islam in Africa has become a problem for the West,” Abdul Akbar Muhammad, International Representative for the Nation of Islam, told a crowd here at the Justice Center.

“Muslims have historically been on the bottom in Africa. The colonizers could take Africans with traditional religions and break them down.  They could not break the Muslims. African Muslims frown on what the West is trying to introduce, like homosexuality. The U.S. ties it to aid.  Muslims go further into their faith to push back.”

Islam is the fastest growing religion around the world, according to a recent Pew Research Center Report. The report details how the main reasons for Islam’s growth ultimately involves simple demographics. To begin with, Muslims have more children than members of the seven other major religious groups analyzed in the study.

Each Muslim woman has an average of 3.1 children, significantly above the next-highest group (Christians at 2.7) and the average of all non-Muslims (2.3). In all major regions where there is a sizable Muslim population, Muslim fertility exceeds non-Muslim fertility.

Before a captivated audience Mr. Muhammad discussed issues around the continent and showed from country to country the rise of Islam and Islamic leaders.

“The strength of Islam is frightening for the West. They are concerned what could happen if the Muslims unite. The Western world is trying to control Africa but Islam is growing and rebukes that control,” he said May 5.

International Ambassador of Peace Imam Douglas Owen Ali is on his way to Nigeria for the installation of newly-elected President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a Muslim. “There is a cultural divide. In Nigeria, it is secular state but same sex marriage is prohibited. Islamic values are in stark contradiction to Western values like homosexuality, LBGT rights and things like that. Those values are inconsistent with the cultural and religious values of Africa,” Imam Ali.

“This creates a cultural divide. Both Christian and Muslim African values are based on a shared community, an extended family. Those values are inconsistent with the rugged, individualistic American values.   Even in capitalist Africa you have a strong tradition of sharing and the extended family. Even in the poorest areas of African you won’t find homeless people or people hungry. The extended family is the social security safety net.”

While Africa has the potential and is the only country with the natural resources to rebuild the East and West, its history of colonization has limited its ability to be the giant it can be. Thousands try to leave on a regular basis risking their lives on poorly made boats just to get to Europe. Thousands of others leave for higher education and fail to return.

“People just want to feed their families,” said Mr. Muhammad. “The wealth the world needs is in Africa but Africa is out of control.  Libya’s Muammar Gadhafi’s Green Book had a blueprint for Africa. The West says Africa needs democracy but that is a sham. They only leave people in long enough to get into trouble and get out. It’s not enough time to resolve decades of problems,” he said.

“The answer is that the educated masses must come up with a governmental system that benefits Africa and not the West. But instead of that the West keeps the people desiring all the things they put in front of them, keeps them working two jobs or more just to stay ahead and by doing that, no one has a chance to think about freedom. Few are focused on rebelling against an oppressive society.”

The growth of the Muslim population also is helped by the fact that Muslims have the youngest median age (23 in 2010) of all major religious groups, seven years younger than the median age of non-Muslims (30). A larger share of Muslims will soon be at the point in their lives when people begin having children. This, combined with high fertility rates, will accelerate Muslim population growth.