The influence of Islam on Zulu indigenous worldview

Abstract

This thesis builds on and contributes to work in the field of studies in religion and culture. Although several studies have examined Islam and Muslims in this country predominantly draw from the experiences and historical context of the Asian Muslim population or Asian diaspora. The purpose of the thesis is to investigate the impact of Islam on the Zulu beliefs and practises within the Zulu Muslim community, to determine if the arrival of Islam has eroded Zulu beliefs and practises. The data for this mixed methods study were obtained through a literature analysis and questionnaires administered to a group of Zulu Muslim participants. The study involved a thorough evaluation of materials related to the similarities and differences between Islam and the indigenous Zulu religion. The theological reflection investigates the use of the Quran and Sunnah by Zulu Muslim communities as a means of analysing and filtering non-Islamic Zulu practises and beliefs. It also explores the influence of the notions of Arabisation and Islamisation within the Zulu Muslim community, shedding light on their significance in the process of Zulu Muslims embracing Islam. The study also examines the concept of God in Islam and Zulu Indigenous Religion, as well as the anthropomorphism of Allah and uMlenzemunye or uMvelinqangi, to determine whether the two religions worship the same Supreme Being. This study sought to provide a succinct explanation of the role of ancestral spirits as a central belief upon which everything stands or falls, and to determine if the practise of veneration or worship of ancestors is compatible with Islam. It examines the fate of the deceased from both the Islamic and indigenous Zulu worldviews. I found that the majority of Zulu Muslims involved in this study adhere to the principles of Islam, which is evident in their manner of greeting, praying, dressing, and behaving as devoted servants of Allah. The Zulu Muslims in KwaZulu-Natal firmly believe that Islam is the ultimate truth, which guides their decisions on which Zulu customs and practices to uphold or abandon as devout Muslims.