Practitioners of Islam first entered Somalia in the northwestern city of Zeila during prophet Muhammad's lifetime whereupon they built the Masjid al-Qiblatayn;[1] as such, Islam has been a part of Somali society since the 7th century.[2]
Practicing Islam reinforces distinctions that further set Somalis apart from their immediate neighbors. Sunnism is the strand practiced by 90% of the population.[3] Although Pew Research Center has not conducted a survey in Somalia, its Somali-majority northwestern neighbour Djibouti reported a creed breakdown of Muslims which was reported as 77% adhering to Sunnism, 8% as non-denominational Muslim, 2% as Shia, thirteen percent refusing to answer, and a further report inclusive of Somali Region stipulating 2% adherence to a minority sect (e.g. Ibadism, Quranism etc.).[4]
The role of religious functionaries began to shrink in the 1950s and 1960s as some of their legal and educational powers and responsibilities were transferred to secular authorities.[5] The position of religious leaders changed substantially after the 1969 revolution and the introduction of scientific socialism. Siad Barre insisted that his version of socialism was compatible with Qur'anic principles, and he condemned atheism. Religious leaders, however, were warned not to meddle in politics.
^Lewis, Ioan M. "The Somali conquest of the Horn of Africa." The Journal of African History 1.2 (1960): 213-230.
^A Country Study: Somalia from The Library of Congress
^Oldfield, EC (1993). The Endemic Infectious Diseases of Somalia. Vol. 16. p. 133. doi:10.1093/clinids/16.supplement_3.s132. PMID 8443330. and at least 90% are Sunni Muslims. However, deep divisions exist among competing clan-families, clans, and lineages. The history of Somalia is a long and repetitive story of conflicts{{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
^"Religious Identity Among Muslims". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
^Nina J. Fitzgerald, Somalia: Issues, History, and Bibliography-page 48
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