Islamic Focus - Islam in Panama

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Contact

Make My Homepage

RSS

World News

Mossad Informer Hanged Israel confirmed a Jewish detainee who worked for its spy agency, Mossad, hanged himself. The man, an Australian-Israeli citizen, died in 2010. He was imprisoned because Israel suspected he informed Australia's security agency of Mossad operations. He was held incommunicado in Israel's maximum security prison. His case came to light when an Israeli newspaper website broke the story that year, butthe reports were removed after a gagging order was imposed by the Jewish government. (BBC, 19 Feb 2013)

Hezbollah Helps Assad Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah attacked three Syrian villages near the Lebanese border in support of the Syrian government. 70,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began two years ago. Hezbollah is strongly backed by Iran, a close ally of Assad. Assad's minority Alawite sect is an off-shoot of Shiasm. (BBC, 18 Feb 2013)

Thailand kills Freedom Fighters Thailand army killed 16 Muslim freedom fighters who stormed a base in occupied Muslim south. The three southern Muslim provinces are fighting for an independent Islamic state. They were occupied by Thailand a century ago. (BBC, 14 Feb 2013)

Buddhist Fundamentalists call for Boycott Hardline fundamentalist Sinhalese Buddhist group in Sri Lanka calls for the abolition of the Muslim halal system of certifying foods and other goods. The Buddhist Strength Force also said foreign propagators of religions should leave the country within a month. There have been several attacks on Musjids and Muslim-owned businesses.(BBC, 19 Feb 2013)

Our Digital Library

Visit our online Digital library

Our Nasheed Channel

Our Media Channel

Visit our Media Channel

Get our Newsletter

24 May 2013 | Taqwa: Imam Abdul Moutie Saban | Mansoor: Moulana Nazir Munshie | Darul Uloom: Mufti Siraj Desai | West End: Moulana Rashid Ramlan | Huda, Korsten: Mufti Sagheer in Somali | Humphries Street: Moulana Salmaan Moosagie | Grace Street: | Fuqara: Moulana Irfan Makda | Azhar: Moulana Muhammad Ravat | Bloemendaal: Moulana Luqmaan Adams | Rudolph Street: Sheikh Iman Nakhomo | Salt Lake: Moulana Nazeem Moosagie | Saabireen: Sheikh Mukhtar Rabban | Qudama, UTH: Sheikh Ebrahim Essop | Korsten Jamaat Khana: Moulana Yusuf Desai | Mumineen, UTH: Moulana Nadeem Khan | Haq, UTH: Imam Liaquat Ali Tiry | Kuyga: | Pier Street: Moulana Ebrahim Muhammad | Booysens Park: | Overbaakens: Sheikh Ashraf Adam | UPE: | Al Bayaan, Jackson Street: | Ibn Taymiyya: | Motherwell: Imam Musa Milanzi | New Brighton: Sheikh Nceba Salamntu [All venues subject to change without notice]
2013 May 25: Marriage & Spirituality Seminar. Al Azhar School with Imam Abdul Moutie Saban. R150 pp (R250 for couples) incl. lunch. 10am-12:30pm/2-5pm. Tel: 0844572222 | June: Mufti Abdool Kader Hoosen: 6: Salt Lake after Esha | 7: Juma Musjid Taqwa | 6: Moulana Ebrahim Bham: Juma at Mansoor | Lecture at Mansoor after Esha | 23: Moulana Mumtazul Haq (TBC)
1. Port Elizabeth Student Zakaat Bursary Fund. Contribute towards the fees of deserving students who excel academically. Moulana Muhammad Badsha 078 672 7797 | 2. Families Against Drugs. Meetings: Mondays 7:30pm, Family Support Meetings: Wednesdays 7:30pm. Al Ansar Building, Bell Road | 3. Musjid Fattah, Booysens Park. Building Project. 084 556 4588 | 4. Adult Revert Classes for Ladies. 7-8:15pm Wednesdays. West End Shopping Complex. 082 823 2209 | 5. Al Fidaa Helpline: 0861 000 349 | 6. Adult Madressa classes after Maghrib. Tuesdays/Fridays weekly. Males at Darul Uloom Abu Bakr. Females at Darul Uloom Girls' Madressa
2012 Oct 7: Shadeed Heame | 9: Kulsoom Ismail | 10: Munieba Tifloen | 12: Kulsoem Salie | 12: Abduraofe Meyer | 13: Anwar Sharmar | Nov 5: Moosa Tiry | 13: Kamiel Jantjies | 19: Arshaad Schmidt | 21: Zohra Kader | Dec 4: Yasmin Abdullah | 11: Marashala Assie | 13: Hava Cassim | 27: Rhoda Dolley | 29: Zohra Shabuddin | 30: Fareed Muhammad | Jan 2013 3: Yasmin Daniels | 3: Fatima Seedat | 3: Laeeq Maree | 10: Marnie Padayachee | 11: Sulaiman Cerfontein | 16: Jawhyer Potgieter | 17: Ferida Mamoojee | 29: Sheikh Yaseen Xujwa | Feb 2: Alawie Beydon | 4: Mymoena Rockman | 5: Ismaeel Khan | 7: Arshad Fredericks | 15: Fadley Dolley | 17: Jabier Langeveldt | 21: Haaneem Bruce | March 1: Jalaluddin Ellis | 1: Ismail Muhammad | 4: Ebrahim Mahdi | 4: Yahya Prince | 17: Umar Ahmed | 20: Arishad Johaar | 26: Naashitow Agnew | Apr 4: Mariam Kadodia | 6: Chaadia Adams | 9: Shaheed Jappie | 12: Ruwaydah Mohammed | 17: Fauza Meyer | 18: Suraya Calvert | 18: Moonisha Daniels | 18: Ismail Lombard

Islam in Panama

Panama Canal

There are 24,000 Muslims in Panama or 0.7% of the population. The first Muslims came to Panama as slaves from Africa brought by the Spaniards, to work the gold mines in 1552.

A group of Muslim Mandinka slaves numbering 500 escaped from a sinking ship and maintained their independence. They elected Bayano as leader and he led them in their fight against the colonialists. They were steadfast on Islam and built mosques. Bayano made covenants with the Governor of Panama to live in peace but the Spaniards eventually crushed them. Bayano was captured. The river Bayano is named after this Muslim leader.

The second wave of Muslims came from 1904. Muslims from Lebanon and India came and married local women. The formed an organization and built a place of worship in Panama City. Muslims of West Indian descent from Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados also settled in Panama. In 1963 a Muslim cemetery was bought.

The first official mosque was inaugurated in 1982. There are 10 mosques in the country presently. Islam enjoys a prominent place in Panama society. The vast majority of Muslims are of Lebanese, Palestinian and Indian descent. In Colon, Muslims and Jews form the majority of the traders. There are several Muslim or- ganizations in Panama.