Muslim Treatment of non-Muslims in Africa

Islam reached the sub-Saharan African region in the 700's. Non-Muslims who lived in the same areas as Islam were protected under dhimma. This meant that they could not be enslaved and were free to pursue whatever profession they liked. Forced conversions weren't common because Muslims believed that people should come to accept Allah under their own terms. Continuing this belief, it was taught that they tolerate other religions. Patriarch Ghaytho wrote ‘The Arabs, to whom the Lord has given control over the world, treat us as you know; they are not the enemies of Christians. Indeed, they praise our community, and treat our priests and saints with dignity, and offer aid to churches and monasteries.’ If anyone was ever disrespectful, rude or abusive to non-Muslims Prophet Muhammad complained about them on the Day of Judgement. Treatment of all people was taken very seriously in the eyes of the Muslims. However, there was a negative effect of being non-Muslim. The best known purgatory action was Jizya, a tax that only non-Muslims were forced to pay, but as long as non-Muslims followed the law of where ever they were living, they were allowed to live as they pleased. Many people converted to Islam in The tax was the reason for many conversions. Islam appealed to many of the people in the low areas of the hierarchy systems because they weren't required to pay anything. It also appealed to minority religions that were lacking structure. Temporary non-Muslim residents were not given the same rights. In fact, some non-Muslims were even at war with Muslims and because they were only temporary, they weren't given the same respect.
Overall, there wasn't much that kept those that were dedicated to their faith from sticking to them. Even though there were many conversions, there were also people who didn't convert. A head tax was a small price to pay to be able to worship and live as desired for some people. Trade was a key component in the spread of Islam through sub-Saharn Africa. Merchants who traveled to this region brought along with them a brand new religion that people were ready to accept. Mansa Kankan Musa was also played a major role in the growing population of Muslims in Africa. He was a successor of Sundiata and made a pilgramge to Mecca making Islam known to the people of Mali. There were major amounts of conversion following his return. So, throughout history, Islam had found ways to make itself known, becoming the second largest practiced religion in today's world.
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