First Arabic Book on History and Spread of Islam in Kenya Launched in Nairobi

The first book ever written in the Arabic language that documents the history of Islam in Kenya and its spread across the country was launched in Nairobi on Thursday.

The book, titled Da’awa al Islamiya Fii Kenya, gives a detailed account of the early spread of the Islamic faith in Kenya, the establishment of Islamic Sultanates along the East African coast, and the challenges that Muslims faced during different periods of history.

It also highlights the contemporary efforts to spread Islam in the coastal region and other parts of the country, including Western and North Eastern Kenya.

One of the major topics covered in the book is the challenges faced by Muslims during the government of former President Daniel arap Moi. Among the cases mentioned are the Wagalla massacre, where thousands of Muslims were killed and maimed by security forces in Wajir in 1984, and the burning of Garissa town by the government in 1980, which displaced many families and caused heavy losses.

The author, Sheikh Hussein Ibrahim Burale, explained during the launch that he wrote the book in 1989 after years of research, but it was first published ten years later.

He said the inspiration to write the book came from the lack of Arabic literature about the history of Muslims in Kenya.

“When I started working on this book, I saw a big gap. There was no Arabic book that narrated the history of Muslims in Kenya. There was a need for a reference material in Arabic that Muslims in Kenya and beyond could use to understand their history,” Sheikh Hussein said.

He added that part of the content covers how Islam first came to the Kenyan coast through traders and travelers from Arabia and the Persian Gulf, how it spread inland, and how Muslims ruled the coastal strip from Lamu down to Mozambique for centuries.

He said he traveled to several towns in Nyanza and Western Kenya to gather facts for the book, meeting elders, scholars, and community leaders to collect oral histories that are included in the work.

The book launch, which took place in Eastleigh, was attended by hundreds of ulamaa, imams of different mosques, and Islamic teachers from Nairobi and other towns.

Sheikh Ahmed Abdilatif, one of the senior scholars who had read the book, praised the author for documenting an important part of Kenyan Muslim history.

He said that Muslims should take the responsibility of telling their own stories rather than leaving it to others.

“This book is a good example of Muslims taking charge of their own history. It shows us where we came from and what challenges we went through. I believe it should be introduced into madrasa curricula so that students across the country can learn their history in detail,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

He added that many young people in Kenya know little about the role of Muslims in shaping the history of the country, and the book provides a starting point for further study and awareness.

Sheikh Adan Sheikh Ali, the Imam of Masjid Abubakar Asidiq, the largest mosque in Eastleigh, also spoke at the launch. He said reading the book opened his eyes to facts he did not know about the spread of Islam in Kenya. “This book has changed a lot in my life. It is like a light showing me around. There are things I did not know, and this book has explained them in detail,” Sheikh Adan said.

The Imam purchased 20 copies of the book, saying he would take them to a madrasa in Mandera town, where students will be taught the content. He encouraged other Muslims to buy the book and make use of it in schools and homes.

Other speakers at the launch also emphasized the need for such literature to be preserved and promoted.

They said that Arabic-speaking Muslims, particularly students, would benefit from the book that provides both historical knowledge and religious lessons.