Ramadan Through History – The Male Revolt by Muslims in Brazil

During Ramadan we will be publishing articles about historical moments that took place in this blessed month. We present to you the most significant slave rebellion in Brazil that ultimately led to the downfall of the slave trade in that country.

In 1835, in the Brazilian city of Salvador da Bahia, a dedicated vanguard of Muslim slaves and free men – led by their Imams and scholars – rose up against the government which had forced so many African men, women and children into slavery.

This revolt against slavery is known as the ‘Malê Revolt’ as Muslims were called Malê in Bahia at this time, from the Yoruba term ‘imale’ (used for Yoruba Muslims).

Most of the people forced into slavery came either from Senegambia (on the western coast of Africa) or from the Bight of Benin (modern-day Benin, Togo, and Nigeria).

The people from these areas who were forced into slavery were almost entirely Muslim.

The Wolof and Mandinka people of Senegambia were entirely Muslim by the 1400s. The Yoruba, Nupe and Hausa people from Benin were also entirely Muslim since at least the 1500s.

Firas Alkhateeb, of Lost Islamic History, documents the Malê Revolt in great detail, but here is one element of the Muslim fight back that we wanted to share with you to reflect on:

“Before discussing the revolt in 1835, we must understand the unifying factor Islam played in the organisation of the slaves. The Wolof, Mandinke, Hausa, Nupe and Yoruba all spoke different languages. While some people have ignorant ideas about Africa being one monolithic entity, it is a diverse continent of different people, cultures, and nations. These Muslim slaves in Bahia were as diverse as a group of French, German, Russian and Greek speakers. Despite their ethnic differences, the unifying factor between all of them was Islam. Islam provided them with a common language to speak (Arabic), common customs, dietary habits and behaviours. The Muslims of Bahia would be much more connected to fellow Muslims of a different ethnicity than non-Muslims who spoke the same language as them. Throughout Islamic history, unity such as this has led to greater strength and solidarity.”

“The people who organised the revolt were exclusively Muslim scholars. Due to the strength of the Muslim community, they were well respected by the people and held in a position of honour and esteem. Among these leaders were men such as:

Shaykh Dandara – a wealthy freedman who was an imam

Shaykh Sanim – an elderly slave who established a school to teach people about Islam

Malam Bubakar Ahuna – the leading scholar throughout Bahia, who organised Muslim community events.

These Muslim scholars, as well as many others, used the mosques as a base of operations. There they discussed plans for revolt, stored equipment and educated the local Africans. It was through these mosques that Malam Bubakar distributed his call to jihaad (holy struggle, or military resistance). He wrote out a document in Arabic that called on Muslims to unify in preparation for the coming revolt against their Brazilian masters.”

The revolt took on place on 27th Ramadan because the Muslims hoped the heightened spiritual state of the community would lead to greater chances for success.

It was an extremely bloody affair in which many Muslims were martyred striving for their freedom and at surface-level it had appeared to fail as the government was not overthrown nor were any of the freedom fighters able to board ships to head back to the African continent.

But the revolt had begun a fight back – the momentum that this fight back had was such that the slave owners could not stop it.

After the revolt, many in Brazil were fearful of Muslim slaves, so much so that the Brazilian government passed laws that led to a mass deportation of Africans back to Africa. (A partial victory in itself but there was an even greater impact).

Thus, the Malê Revolt was the start of the anti-slavery movement throughout Brazil.

Although slavery continued to exist in Brazil until 1888, the revolt had started an important public discussion about the brutal nature of slavery and how it denied people their freedom.

It is acknowledged by academics and historians from across the spectrum that the Malê Revolt was one of the most important events in leading towards the abolition of slavery in Brazil.

What can Muslims in Britain today learn and apply from the Malê Revolt?

There are many lessons to be learnt from the Malê Revolt – from their bonds of brotherhood to their warrior spirit, there is much we can learn and apply to today.

The Muslims of that time found reasons to work together – they saw their faith as a common denominator which meant it was easier to trust and work with others. Nowadays, some Muslims look for reasons to not work together – a distinct difference from the attitudes of Muslims of the past.

They were driven people. Driven to tackle injustice. Driven to stop oppression. Considering the testing times we face, we need their same drive.

But the most important lesson we can learn is their attitude to Ramadan and Allah.

Ramadan was seen as a month where they were empowered to do more in tackling injustice – today many Muslims try to shy away from the world during Ramadan, treating their spiritual growth as being separate from the conditions of the Ummah and all those who are oppressed. That was not the way of our Prophet (pbuh) and neither was it the way of the great Muslim men and women who are remembered today.

Islam was a catalyst for good. It empowered Muslims to be beacons of justice for all people – especially during Ramadan – but for some Muslims this month seems to be a barrier to doing more good for the Ummah.

As we remember the great martyrs of the Malê Revolt during Ramadan, let us also remember how their understanding and application of Islam led them to be a vanguard for truth and justice.

This Ramadan, may Allah bless us with the same spirit as those great Muslims who led the Malê Revolt.

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