Latin American and Caribbean Muslims

In the last two decades, Islam has flourished in Latin America and the Caribbean, yet in comparison to the United States, the Muslim population in Latin America and the Caribbean is still very small. A bulk of those who make up the Latin American and Caribbean Muslim community are descendants of Arab and South Asian immigrants, many of whom no longer identify themselves as practicing Muslims. 

The Need for Islamic Knowledge and Convert Care Support

Indigenous Latin American and Caribbean communities are in great need of scholars and resources on sound traditional Islamic knowledge. At present, there is a significant dearth of materials on Islam in local languages, such as Spanish and Portuguese. Moreover, until fairly recently, Latin America as a region had been largely disconnected from the larger Muslim world, with exchange between the two regions being fairly minimal. The increasing possibility for people in Latin America and the Caribbean to travel to and from the Muslim world has also been a factor in the number of Muslim converts that steadily increases along the years. 

Throughout the region, there are a number of mosques and Muslim organizations established and run by Arab and South Asian immigrants, such as in Brazil and Argentina. Many local Muslim converts, however, feel somehow excluded. 

Musalla al Hidayah (Santiago, the Dominican Republic)

Despite the availability of limited dawa resources at hand, the increasing opportunity for Muslims to reach out to local communities, as well as the generally positive reception to efforts of calling people to Islam, dawa efforts beyond immigrant Muslim communities have largely been ignored due to the lack of competent human resources trained in sound Islamic knowledge. Many local Muslim communities have in fact very limited understanding, knowledge, and resource on Islam. 

One of the main challenges facing local Muslims in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Bavaro in the Dominican Republic is the lack of convert care. Dawa activists have had to juggle between their professional occupation and propagating information on Islam. More efforts are also needed to help propagate sound Islamic knowledge and Prophetic manners among the society at large. 

Sponsor Students, Build Communities 

In light of the above concerns and needs, we therefore set out to launch a crowd-funding campaign to help sponsor a delegation from local Muslim communities in Latin America and the Caribbean in fulfilling the communal obligation of pursuing sacred knowledge, particularly in Tarim, Yemen. We hope that upon the completion of their studies, these seekers of knowledge will be well-equipped with sound traditional Islamic knowledge and be able to return to their localities and convey what they have learned to the community in their respective mother tongue, in addition to establishing their own organizations necessary for the propagation of sound Islamic knowledge and calling to Allah.

For this campaign, we will need to raise around $8,000 within thirty days, in sha Allah.

Help Fund Zakat-Eligible Students in Seeking Knowledge 

Proceeds from this campaign will be used to sponsor Latin American and Caribbean students (we are currently supporting five students and two children), particularly covering their travel expenses and immigration fees related to their relocation to Tarim, Yemen. Our candidates are very deserving of financial assistance. Most of them can read Arabic and know some knowledge of the Quran and rules of Quranic recitation. Knowledge of Arabic language that is based on the Arabic curriculum of Dar al Mustafa is very basic. In many communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, the lack of opportunity to practice the Arabic language becomes a significant challenge to improve their language skills.

Shaykh AbdulKarim Yahya in Mexico

We are also accepting zakat. The candidates, as travelers and seekers of knowledge, are zakat-eligible. 

All but one of the present candidates have been awarded scholarships, yet lack the financial means to cover various travel expenses. We are therefore seeking your generous assistance and kind support. Please help us achieve our aims and objectives by:

• Pledging your support with a LaunchGood donation. 

• Help spread the word! Share the LaunchGood link to this LaunchGood campaign with your loved ones and friends whether or not you make a donation.