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Illuminating the Darkness: Blacks and North Africans in Islam
The book is divided into two Part l of the book explores the concept of race, 'blackness', slavery, interracial marriage and racism in Islam in the light of the Qur'an, Hadith and early historical sources. Part ll of the book consists of a compilation of short biographies of noble black and North African Muslim men and women in Islamic history including Prophets, Companions of he Prophet (SAAS) and more recent historical figures. The reader is given a fascinating glimpse into the lives of truly noble characters, from luminous scholars to leaders of whole African civilisations. The reader needs no other discrimination while reading this book than the one the author strives to make clear the din of Islam is not only free of racism but is utterly opposed to it as the most aberrant form of jahiliyyah (ignorance).
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
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About the author
Habeeb Akande
9 books163 followersHabeeb Akande is a British-Nigerian sex expert, historian and erotologist. He is a bestselling author of seven published books on sexual pleasure and African history.
His main research interest include erotology. and female pleasure in Islam and African cultures. As a public speaker, sexologist, and cross-cultural sex educator, Habeeb carries out workshops on the clitoris, kunyaza, and female ejaculation at international conferences and leading universities. He featured in the BBC documentary, The Orgasm Gap (2020), which explored teaching female pleasure in Rwanda and the UK.
BBC described him as the "man who is finding ways to close the gender pleasure gap outside of the classroom."
He is also a chartered accountant by profession and former student of Islamic law at al-Azhar University in Egypt.
His main research interest include erotology. and female pleasure in Islam and African cultures. As a public speaker, sexologist, and cross-cultural sex educator, Habeeb carries out workshops on the clitoris, kunyaza, and female ejaculation at international conferences and leading universities. He featured in the BBC documentary, The Orgasm Gap (2020), which explored teaching female pleasure in Rwanda and the UK.
BBC described him as the "man who is finding ways to close the gender pleasure gap outside of the classroom."
He is also a chartered accountant by profession and former student of Islamic law at al-Azhar University in Egypt.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 14, 2020
Great overview of Black contribution to Islam
It details many of the blacks who rose to prominence in Islam and also explains some of the reasons why some anti black racism persisted in Islamic society despite many instances of equality. Lots of important details and sources often ignored in other works. Heavily referenced.
Where it falls short is in the apparent limited approach to some controversial figures and descriptions of prominent figures in Islam. Sadly, it does not address the ‘Ayranisation’ of Islam that undoubtedly occurred during the period after the Muslim conquest of Persia and Byzantine regions. It’s a delicate issue because much of the recent scholarship tends to whitewash the history of this period, particularly the transformation of Arabs from a clearly African and/-or black Semitic origin in both appearance and cultural linguistic perspective towards an Ayranised history. Much of this was done during the Abbasid and Ottoman period. However, for those wishing to gain an introduction to this subject this book is a great start. It will not offend those people who have been suitably indoctrinated to accept currently accepted myths about the Islam’s most sacred figures. For those who wish to dig further, the author to his credit does cites classical sources which upon reading would challenge and broaden the scope of the black contributions in a way that was clearly accepted and understood by the earliest followers of Islam. One such fallacy is the notion that the black contribution is essentially limited to Sudan and Abyssinians, cleverly avoiding the reality that the entire Arabian peninsula is connected and the former, geographically, ethnically and linguistically. It is one complex. It was all essentially ‘black’ by any rational empirical description and considered so by the early Arabs themselves. Anyone familiar with the original sources is easily convinced of this fact. Yet, political and social pathologies continue to distort the accurate depiction so as not to ‘offend’ or upset the current status quo. Lastly, the author dismisses some works by attacking the author rather than the merits of their arguments about the role of blacks in Islam. I would suggest avoiding this approach and read the arguments and evidences for this work and those the author dismisses to get an accurate picture. On the whole however, it’s a worthwhile effort which belongs in your library.
It details many of the blacks who rose to prominence in Islam and also explains some of the reasons why some anti black racism persisted in Islamic society despite many instances of equality. Lots of important details and sources often ignored in other works. Heavily referenced.
Where it falls short is in the apparent limited approach to some controversial figures and descriptions of prominent figures in Islam. Sadly, it does not address the ‘Ayranisation’ of Islam that undoubtedly occurred during the period after the Muslim conquest of Persia and Byzantine regions. It’s a delicate issue because much of the recent scholarship tends to whitewash the history of this period, particularly the transformation of Arabs from a clearly African and/-or black Semitic origin in both appearance and cultural linguistic perspective towards an Ayranised history. Much of this was done during the Abbasid and Ottoman period. However, for those wishing to gain an introduction to this subject this book is a great start. It will not offend those people who have been suitably indoctrinated to accept currently accepted myths about the Islam’s most sacred figures. For those who wish to dig further, the author to his credit does cites classical sources which upon reading would challenge and broaden the scope of the black contributions in a way that was clearly accepted and understood by the earliest followers of Islam. One such fallacy is the notion that the black contribution is essentially limited to Sudan and Abyssinians, cleverly avoiding the reality that the entire Arabian peninsula is connected and the former, geographically, ethnically and linguistically. It is one complex. It was all essentially ‘black’ by any rational empirical description and considered so by the early Arabs themselves. Anyone familiar with the original sources is easily convinced of this fact. Yet, political and social pathologies continue to distort the accurate depiction so as not to ‘offend’ or upset the current status quo. Lastly, the author dismisses some works by attacking the author rather than the merits of their arguments about the role of blacks in Islam. I would suggest avoiding this approach and read the arguments and evidences for this work and those the author dismisses to get an accurate picture. On the whole however, it’s a worthwhile effort which belongs in your library.
March 22, 2018
This was an interesting read the author provides a valuable perspective on race in Islam from both a theological and historical perspective. The snapshots of historical black Muslims that is the focus of the second half of the book is quite interesting and would likely make a good jumping point for further research, covering a broad range of personalities from the companions of the Prophet all the way to Malcom X. Worth noting however is that the author skews strongly in favour of Sunnis and against Shi'ites. This unfortunately results in the book being incomplete as there is no mention of North Africans under the Fatimids.
August 17, 2022
2.7 stars
Habeeb Akande’s book is split into two parts. Part one covers a range of topics related to race, and part two is a compilation of short biographies. A large section of part two felt like I was reading Ibn Jawzi’s book all over again, because the format and contents felt identical.
I was surprised that Summayah (ra) who was the first companion to be martyred, and her son Ammar ibn Yassir (ra), were missing from the biographies.
There was very little analysis in the second part of the book.
This book doesn’t cover racism in contemporary Muslim societies, it’s more of a historical record.
Habeeb Akande’s book is split into two parts. Part one covers a range of topics related to race, and part two is a compilation of short biographies. A large section of part two felt like I was reading Ibn Jawzi’s book all over again, because the format and contents felt identical.
I was surprised that Summayah (ra) who was the first companion to be martyred, and her son Ammar ibn Yassir (ra), were missing from the biographies.
There was very little analysis in the second part of the book.
This book doesn’t cover racism in contemporary Muslim societies, it’s more of a historical record.
December 16, 2020
Some very interesting narrations of companions and prophets that could be described as black. The book also tackles the common arguments used by orientalists to malign the Islamic faith as pro-slavery. But in my opinion falls short in addressing the modern phenomenon of racism in the Muslim majority countries. A particular case being the treatment of African migrants in Libya. A good introduction to the topic and well referenced but leaves the impression the book does not reach its potential.
January 14, 2025
Mixed opinions on this one.
Much to learn on this area of our Islamic history. Beneficial in parts. Other parts were a bit repetitive, or things I didn't agree with from a validity point of view.
Found the latter section of the book informative.
Much to learn on this area of our Islamic history. Beneficial in parts. Other parts were a bit repetitive, or things I didn't agree with from a validity point of view.
Found the latter section of the book informative.
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January 25, 2015it explained a lot of misconceptins for me,also being a muslim revert it re-affirmed that ALLAH created to all humans with the same bio-logical likeness.
July 10, 2015
This book focuses on ideas of slavery, ethnicity and racism in Islam together with notable Africans who have made their mark on the religion. Interesting reading.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews