MUSLIMS FROM AFRICA REACHED THE NEW WORLD
SIX CENTURIES BEFORE COLUMBUS

By: Laila Hasib

Ask any schoolboy or girl in North America and the Chances are they will say that Columbus discovered America. They will even give the date: October 11, 1492. Not only did Christopher Columbus not discover any place or see the American shore, but also European historians, who dominate the world scene, have conveniently hidden the truth about the first contacts between the new and old worlds.

To tell the world that that Muslims from Africa were the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean, disembark on solid soil and live in the Caribbean Islands and in South America would disrupt the imperialists “false sense of Glory and Superiority.

Much has become known about the explorer Columbus through the strenuous efforts of native people eager to tell their story. Five hundred years after he washed up on the shores of San Salvador, it has become clear that Columbus stumbled upon not only “Indians� but Muslims as well. Muslims began traveling to the Caribbean six centuries before European contact was made (over 1,100 years ago).

Columbus and early Spanish and Portuguese explorers were able to voyage across the Atlantic (a distance of 1,500 miles) due to Muslim geographical and navigational information and maps made by Muslim traders, in particular Al-Masudi’s drawings (d. 957 CE). Vasco da Gama consulted with Ahmad Ibn Majid on the African Western coast before setting out into the Atlantic. Ibn Majid was the world’s expert on navigation in the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Sea of Southern China and the waters around the West Indies.

As early as 889 CE, a Muslim navigator, Kashkhash ibn Saeed ibn Aswad, from Cordoba Spain, crossed the Atlantic and returned with wonderful treasures. In February 999 CE, Ibn Farukh landed in Gando (Great Canary Islands), visited King Guanariga, and continued westwards where he saw and named two islands, Capraria and Pluitana, he arrived back in Spain in May.

The famous Arab Geographer Al Sharif al-Idrisi (1097-1155) wrote in The Geography of Al-Idrisi: “A group of seafarers (from North Africa) sailed into the sea of Darkness and Fog (The Atlantic Ocean) from Lisbon (Portugal) in order to discover what was in it, and to what extent were its limits�. They finally reached an island that had people and cultivation. On the fourth day a translator came speaking the Arabic language!�

When Mansa Musa the world-renowned Mandinka monarch of the West African Islamic Empire of Mali, was enroute to Makkah on his famous Hajj in 1324, he informed the scholars of Cairo that his brother, King Abubakari II, had undertaken two expeditions into the Atlantic Ocean. When the king did not return to Timbuktoo from the second voyage of 1311, Mansa Musa became ruler of the Empire.

The Mandinkas used the closest land base to West Africa, Brazil, as the center for their exploration of the Americas. They traveled along rivers through the dense jungles of South America into North America. In a document written in 1754 a Spanish banderista (land pirate) wrote of well laid-out cities in and around Minas Geraes in the interior of Brazil with suburb stone and mortar buildings, obelisks and statues.

The jungle has reclaimed many of these Mandinka cities, but the early Spanish explorers saw a large number of them. The Muslims left a legacy of writing among the natives of the area, especially on the Koaty Islands of Lake Titicaca, where the ideograms are identical to the Mandinka script.

Even as far as the Pacific Ocean coast of South America, near Ylo, Mandinka Muslim writings have been found and translated: “man - To pursue worship, to mature and become matter without life. Man pursues a cavernous place -(i.e. the grave).

Anthropologists have proven that the Mandinkas under Mansa Musa’s instructions explored many parts of North America via the Mississippi and other river systems. At Four Corners, Arizona writings show that they even brought elephants from Africa to the area.

In Panama, Central America, the Muslims had such an effect that even today the indigenous people are classified as either Mandingas (Mandinkas) of Tul.

When Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the Spaniard, reached Panama in 1513, he came upon Africans. His recorder wrote that when Balboa entered the province of Quarequa, along the Isthmus of Darien, he found no gold, but some black prisoners of war belonging to the king. He asked him where he had obtained them and was told that blacks lived quite near and were constantly at war with them. “These blacks were entirely like the blacks of Guinea.�

Ferdinand Columbus, the son of Christopher, wrote about the Blacks seen by his father in Honduras: “The people who live farther east (of Pointe Cavinas) as far as Cape Graciosa Dios, are almost black in color. Some Muslims in Honduras called themselves Al Mamy’s (Al-Imamu or Imam).

Other groups of blacks were reported in Honduras, perhaps by Columbus, near the Nicaraguan border at Tegucigalpa and known as Jaras and Guabas - these ancient clan and territorial designations titles are still used in Africa today.

A Caribe scholar explained in The Daily Clarion of Belize (November 5, 1946): When Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies about the year 1493, he found there a race. with woolly hair whom he called Caribs.

They were seafaring hunters and tillers of the soil, peaceful and united. They hated aggression. Their religion was Mohammedanism and their language was Arabic. Islamic practices such as the prohibition of swine eating are well known among the Caribs. Their most prized possession was the Caracole, a crescent shaped alloy framed in wood.

A renowned American historian and linguist Leo Weiner of Harvard University, in his book, “Africa and The Discovery of America� (1920) wrote that Columbus was well aware of the Mandinka presence in the “New World�, and that the West African Muslims had spread throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, North America and even into Canada, where they were trading and intermarrying with the Iroquois and Algonquin Indians.

No wonder Weiner’s book is controversial. Columbus wrote of his third voyage: “Inhabitants of the Island of Santiago said that to the Southwest of the Island of Huego (one of the Cape Verde’s) was another island of people (Haiti), ‘where he found Black People who have the tops of their spears made of a metal which they call ‘Guanin’ (Mandinka for gold 32 parts, 18 were of gold, six parts of silver and eight of copper. “Muslims in West Africa had known the art of alloying gold with copper and silver for centuries.

Columbus left on his first voyage under the patronage of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain at a time when the Muslim population was under tremendous pressure to convert to Catholicism or face extermination. Muslims had ruled Spain for over 700 years dominating Europe culturally, educationally and economically. But Spain fell to the Christians that year. The colonization of the Americas by the Spanish was simply an extension of the reqonquista (reconquest) of the Iberian Peninsula.

The explorers were Spanish soldiers who had fought in Africa and sailed the seas to destroy Islam, therefore they easily recognized the Muslims in the New World. The influence of Islam on Spain was so profound that when Hernando Cortez arrived in Yucatan, Mexico in 1519, he named the area El-Cairo and the men of Cortez and Pizarro called the nati ve temples Mezquitas (Spanish for masjid).

Some Moriscos (Muslims who had become Christians by force) also traveled to the Americas as soldiers, explorers and laborers. There they returned to their true faith and succeeded in propagating Islam to the native people. As soon as this was discovered, a series of laws was decreed by Spain to stop the flow of free and enslaved Muslims to the Americas.

The king wrote on July16 1550: I order you that under no circumstances, or by any means shall you consent to the passage to our Indies, Islands or Tierra Firma of any Negro Slaves who may be from the Levant or who may have been brought up there, or no other Negroes who may have been reared with Moriscos, even though they be of the race of Negroes of Guinea.

Not only were they afraid that the Muslims would upset their heinous plans of enslaving the native people, but their presence was also seen as a threatening their efforts at converting the population to their passive brand of Christianity. In another edict he wrote: You are informed that if such Moors are by their nationality and origin Moors, and if they should teach Muslim doctrines or wage war against you, or the Indians who may have adopted the Muslim religion, you shall; not make them slaves by any means whatsoever.

On the contrary you shall try to convert them or persuade them by good and legitimate means to accept our Holy Catholic Faith.

The hypocrisy of the church and the state was clearly highlighted by the first Christians to see land in the New World. When he returned to Spain Rodrigo de Triana embraced Islam and said:  Columbus did not give him credit, nor the king and recompense (reward) for his having seen before any other man, Light in The Indies.

This article was originally printed in Mahjuba Magazine, no. 109, June 1993 -Tehran, Iran

dass some tru shit

diss bin goin on 4 a thousand years

da muslims discovered evrytin n da whites robbed us

ders sooo much scientific facts in the qur'an most of der discoveries they took from da qur'an

Salaam Omaar.

There's another Muslim who also sailed before that murderer columbus, his name was Zheng He a Chinese Mariner. He was born in 1371-1435.

Starting from the beginning of the 15th century, he traveled to the West seven times. For 28 years, he traveled more than 50,000km and visited over 30 countries, including Singapore.

So you're exactly right we all know that piece of crap columbus couldn't evendiscover his ass.

A Muslim does not define a persons national heritage, it only define a persons belief. Many of our forefathers who made it here were forced by Arabs across the Trans-Sahara Slave trade into the Western sphere of Africa to become Muslims or it meant death.

A Muslim is not a national heritage, but can you tell me the Nationality of that brotha that you are speaking about?

There were West African traveling back and forward for centuries before White folks made it here. There were the Olmecs of course. There were the Aboriginals, The Hebrews (Black ancient Hebrews) whom they have found their writings engraved in stone down toward New Mexico; writings as old as 2600 years old. The West Africans taught the white man how to sail to this land in a 51 day voyage.

Now when Columbus made it over here he sent reports to the English that he saw indians (people that looked like those dark folks from India) and he seen Ethiopians.

I don't understand why you would brag about a religion that was historically proven to be forced on our people to the point of death.

Tell what nationality he was and then you will have brothas and sistas impressed.

Was He Moor, Egyptian, Hebrew, Abroriginal, Olmec... was he West African... what was his nationality?

Just like black folks, always bragging about some white-mans religion or Arabs for that fact. We are the Most ignorant people on the planet. We have lost our ability to think for ourselves. Islam is not the religion of the black man. Muhammad learned his teaching from Hebrews and Christians will in Medina. Had he not included Isa into his writing and adopted the virgin birth theory which is clearly Grecian, I would have been coo with it.

Now how many negro's/black folks/African Americans/West African Sothern African North East African/brazilians and so forth have gone to this hell because they didn't follow Islam? What about every one that was prior to the beginning of Islam.. did they go to hell? Or what about the pre-Islamic Arabs.... did they go to hell for following Allah/ the Moon God and his daughters?

Why does the Muslims still follow the traditions of the pre-Muslims? You know pray 5 times a day, the pillramage, lunar celebration and so forth? Why does the Muslims have the Crescent star on their nations flags? Why does the NOI were the sign of Allah the Moon god and his daughter (star) on their clothing? Dumb ass brothas and sistas....

We follow anything and just think that we have the truth. I hate to see our people going out like this. You believe that you have the truth because Muslims managed to keep his original writing un-touched. That doesn't make it the truth, it makes it a protected writing which the world couldn't get to or it meant death on them. There are writing from the Catholic church that are just as old as the Quran.. that has not been tampered with. Does that mean they have the truth? Hell naw.....

Ignorance is bliss and we have got to be the dumbest black folks on this planet.

Cinque

Salaam Omaar.

There's another Muslim who also sailed before that murderer columbus, his name was Zheng He a Chinese Mariner. He was born in 1371-1435.

Starting from the beginning of the 15th century, he traveled to the West seven times. For 28 years, he traveled more than 50,000km and visited over 30 countries, including Singapore.

So you're exactly right we all know that piece of crap columbus couldn't even discover his ass.

Salaam

I kept hearing about how the Chinese discovered the Americas before the Europeans but never really researched it that much.

Everytime I go to the book store I keep passing by a book talking about how the Chinese found America centuries ago and established trading routes but never thought to pick it up.

In no way did I know the Chinese who came here were Muslim!

Word is bond, I'm gonna pick up that book and do a little readin the next time I come across it.







RU2helpless


A Muslim does not define a persons national heritage, it only define a persons belief. Many of our forefathers who made it here were forced by Arabs across the Trans-Sahara Slave trade into the Western sphere of Africa to become Muslims or it meant death.

That's what I want to know...how many?

What evidence do you have of these atrocities, did any Arabs or Africans tell you this?



A Muslim is not a national heritage, but can you tell me the Nationality of that brotha that you are speaking about?

There were West African traveling back and forward for centuries before White folks made it here. There were the Olmecs of course. There were the Aboriginals, The Hebrews (Black ancient Hebrews) whom they have found their writings engraved in stone down toward New Mexico; writings as old as 2600 years old. The West Africans taught the white man how to sail to this land in a 51 day voyage.

Now when Columbus made it over here he sent reports to the English that he saw indians (people that looked like those dark folks from India) and he seen Ethiopians.

I don't understand why you would brag about a religion that was historically proven to be forced on our people to the point of death.

Tell what nationality he was and then you will have brothas and sistas impressed.

Was He Moor, Egyptian, Hebrew, Abroriginal, Olmec... was he West African... what was his nationality?

Just like black folks, always bragging about some white-mans religion or Arabs for that fact. We are the Most ignorant people on the planet. We have lost our ability to think for ourselves. Islam is not the religion of the black man. Muhammad learned his teaching from Hebrews and Christians will in Medina. Had he not included Isa into his writing and adopted the virgin birth theory which is clearly Grecian, I would have been coo with it.

Now how many negro's/black folks/African Americans/West African Sothern African North East African/brazilians and so forth have gone to this hell because they didn't follow Islam? What about every one that was prior to the beginning of Islam.. did they go to hell? Or what about the pre-Islamic Arabs.... did they go to hell for following Allah/ the Moon God and his daughters?

Why does the Muslims still follow the traditions of the pre-Muslims? You know pray 5 times a day, the pillramage, lunar celebration and so forth? Why does the Muslims have the Crescent star on their nations flags? Why does the NOI were the sign of Allah the Moon god and his daughter (star) on their clothing? Dumb ass brothas and sistas....

We follow anything and just think that we have the truth. I hate to see our people going out like this. You believe that you have the truth because Muslims managed to keep his original writing un-touched. That doesn't make it the truth, it makes it a protected writing which the world couldn't get to or it meant death on them. There are writing from the Catholic church that are just as old as the Quran.. that has not been tampered with. Does that mean they have the truth? Hell naw.....

Ignorance is bliss and we have got to be the dumbest black folks on this planet.



The Muslims who came here before Columbus were indeed Black....didn't you read the article?

I agree with a lot of what you have to say black, but I'm still trying to get a good understanding of the role you expect Black people to play in this world.

Are you saying that our only place in this world is OUTSIDE of civilization and sophistication?

We aren't supposed to be Muslim, Christians, Hebrews....not suppose to believe in God, the Devil, Heaven or Hell.
We're not supposed to speak English, Arabic or any other language nor accept any other culture except some ancient culture we were practicing 5000 years ago?

Or do you think the only thing Black people should be doing is running around half naked digging in roots out in the forest and babbling among eachother with no form of written communication?


Nah black....

Every group of people progresses itself by learning from another group and taking a little bit of knowledge from every civilization.

You can do what you wanna do but if the Arabs have a religion that works better and makes more sense than my own I'm gonna join it until I find one better.

If the Chinese have technology superior to mine, I'm gonna accept it.

If the Nigerian has a drug that can cure what ails me, I'm gonna take it.

do your historical research on the Trans Sahara Slave trade. I also pointed out that there were Black Hebrews here that landed on this Island 2600 years ago. Islam is a religion. Period! It does not verify a mans nationality.

You wrote:

"I agree with a lot of what you have to say black, but I'm still trying to get a good understanding of the role you expect Black people to play in this world."

First role that we should be involving ourself in is a role of liberation. So many people spend so much time investigating the history of their personal belief system that they become consumed in meaningless knowledge. I ask you my bratha, how have your findings increased your place in civilization?

You wrote:

" Are you saying that our only place in this world is OUTSIDE of civilization and sophistication? "


Now that is a terrible assessment on what I was saying. You believe that your religion is the bases of sophistication? My brotha if that is the case then reading more about civilized society should be on top of your list for things to do. The Egyptians, were by no means muslims, yet there haven't been a civilization more civilized then theirs. The ancient Sumerians were civilized and many other sects of tribes were civilized. What I was addressing was the fact that you zealously posted thread about "MUSLIMS FROM AFRICA REACHED THE NEW WORLD
SIX CENTURIES BEFORE COLUMBUS"

My problem is this statement is Muslim. I want to know what type of brother reached the New World before Columbus? I know of many tribes that reached the New world i.e. Turtle Island as it was onced named. I am a historian b trade so knowledge of a black man reaching the new world is nothing new.

I would like to know how does the title of this thread help none Muslims? What does this mam that reached the new world first have for us to get out of our current dellima? How have this knowledge that you posted, given us footage to set our future actions into prosperity?

This man being a Muslim by religion, does that mean we should all become Muslim because that is our NATIONALITY? I know that Islam is a religion created from Christianity and Hebrewism, so I know for a fact that him being a Muslim doesn't do anything for us, he's Muslimism so to speak on traps us into another religious belief that will be hard for us to get out of.

You wrote:

" We aren't supposed to be Muslim, Christians, Hebrews....not suppose to believe in God, the Devil, Heaven or Hell.
We're not supposed to speak English, Arabic or any other language nor accept any other culture except some ancient culture we were practicing 5000 years ago?

Or do you think the only thing Black people should be doing is running around half naked digging in roots out in the forest and babbling among eachother with no form of written communication? "

Now that was just plan out ignorant on your part to say the least. We are a people designed to believe in a higher being. I believe in the Most High. Yet, I also believe that we can't wait for him to fall out of the sky in order to get us into a better sitation.

I'm reminded of the story dealing with Moses/Moshah. He lead a people out of Egypt (if the story is true) because the Most High used him. Joseph/Yahshuah lead the peolpe into Canaan, King David lead the people into Battle, Yoseph/Yuya black man, son of Yukob lead his people into Egypt to beat the famine. Through out the Tanakh/Old Testament, these great men were lead by the Deity to get them out of there situations.

They were not a people of sitting back exploring who was a Hebrew or not, they didn't spend all of there days researching who was the first man on the land of Canaan. Who placed there sandle on the ground first. These understanding or trivial and they don't benefit anyone.

I ask you, are you civilized? If so then, then why are you not talking about building your own civilization? Why are you stuck on the past, that you have denied the future of what can be a civilized as you like to say nation? Why are we still a people marching to the WHITE HOUSE for liberation? What has your knowledge in Islam gotten us to this day? I have found thing to be worse now then what they were 10 years ago.

My brutha, what I'm trying to get you to see is that Allah if you will, should be more then motivating you to get his people out of this land and into a land to which they can call there own. Now don't get me wrong I don't believe in Allah because he is a pre-Islamic Deity, never the less why is he so coo with leaving us here and not motiving Farrakhan to remove his people from such and evil land?

You wrote:

" What evidence do you have of these atrocities, did any Arabs or Africans tell you this?"

This is the funniest thing out of all the things that you have written to this date. Do your historical research my brother. 700 Hebrews massacred in Medina because they refused to follow Islam. Look at what is happening in Dufar to this date. Millions have been driven from their homes by Islamic extremist. The twisted thing about it, is that it is black Muslims helping to do its people like that. Read your current affairs and your history my brother and you will see without doubt that a holy Jjhad has been placed on none Muslims in Africa for centuries as it is currently going on today.

They spare the woman and inpregnate them so there children can be born Muslim... What is that about? Muslim is a religion an not a nationality...

History my brother, proof is in the pudding.

Just curious Thoth B3, what is your religion? if in fact you have one. All religions have/had their atrocities throughout history, no religion is exempt.

Yes it is true that Arabs who went to Africa to expel their Christian Invaders became their replacements. As a Muslim it pains me to admit this. Even during the Prophet Muhammeds time racism still existed within Islam.

Don't be so critical though, because every religion was/is still practicing racism today. I can say from what I've studied and read, the Prophet Muhammed contrary to popular belief didn't follow this behavior, Insh Allah

Every religion has its horrific history. I've found Islam to be the most peaceful and accepting of all races, let alone the one with the most respect.