Islam in Fiji

In the early 19th century, Muslims migrated to Fiji from South Asia. The Fiji Muslim League (FML) was formed in 1926. The FML was vital in the growth of Islam as they contributed to the schooling system of Fiji with launching Muslims schools in the country. In 1929, Fiji Muslim League sought to acquire discrete representation for Muslims in the Fiji Legislative Council.

Some modern Muslim migrants from Arab Countries such as Sudan, Yemen and Egypt also have settled in Fiji forming a Fijian-Arab Population, with other migrants from other country's around the Islamic World. Islamic holy days such as Mawlid are also given as a holiday by the Fijian government.

History

Early history

By the early 19th century, Muslim migrants preserved Islam within their families for generations after the first ship brought various ethnicities across South Asia, indentured labourers to Fiji in 1879. The first Indentured laborer ship, the Leonidas, had quite a high proportion 22% of Muslims. Between 1879 and 1916, a total of 60,553 laborers were brought to Fiji from South Asia under the Indentured labourer system. Muslims played their part in protest against indenture. In 1907, a group of indentured laborer went on strike in Labasa. Most of these were Pashtuns and Punjabis who were Muslims. Although Muslims lived as a separate community, they had peaceful relations with other communities including the native Fijians and the Indian Hindus.

From 1884 onwards, as laborers completed their five-year tenure, Muslim communities started to form in many areas of Fiji. The arrival of Mulla Mirza Khan, a free-immigrant, was a boost to Islam in Fiji, as he contributed a lot to the educational and religious needs of the Muslims. In 1900, mosques were built in Nausori and in Navua, and another mosque was built in Labasa in 1902. Many mosques began to be built and Islam started rising in Fiji. In 1909, Muslims made submissions to the Education Commission for Urdu to be taught in the Persian script to their children. In 1915, an Islamic organization, the Anjuman Hidayat ul-Islam made a petition to the Fijian government for the solemnization of Muslim marriages by a qazi and recommended its secretary's appointment for the Suva area.

Establishment of Fiji Muslim League

After Muslims of Fiji being indentured, the Fiji Muslim League was formed at the Jamia Masjid in Toorak on October 31, 1926. The Fiji Muslim League has contributed in the education in Fiji. Their first school, the Suva Muslim Primary School, was launched in the founding year 1926. Today, the Fiji Muslim League owns and operates 17 primary and 5 secondary schools, plus a tertiary institution known as the Islamic Institute of the South Pacific. The Fiji Muslim League accepts students and staff members of all ethnic and religious groups, not just Muslims.

The Fiji Muslim League provides help for tertiary studies for needy Muslims through loans from its Education Trust and the Islamic Development Bank. Of the two IDB loan/awards for tertiary studies, one is granted locally for information technology and the other for the study of medicine in Pakistan. Most of the latter in recent times have been allocated for training Muslim female doctors; some have qualified and are working in Fiji.

Besides education, the Fiji Muslim League from its outset has attempted to assist in satisfying all the social needs of the Muslim community. Its involvement in social welfare is both at national and branch levels. In times of natural disasters or turmoil, the Fiji Muslim League directly helps Muslims and non-Muslims alike whose homes and lives have been disrupted. Its charity work ensures many families are fed, clothed, housed, and children sent to school.