History
Main articles: Muslim conquest of North Africa, Muslim conquest of West, Muslim conquest of Sudan, Shirazi era, migration to Abyssinia and coastal coast
The presence of Islam in Africa can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when, in Rajab 8BH, or May 614 AD, Muhammad advised many of his early disciples who were persecuted by the polytheistic inhabitants of Mecca. Were on the axis of refuge across the Red Sea. In the Muslim tradition, this event is first known as Hijrah, or Hijrah. Twenty-three Muslims migrated to Abyssinia, where they were protected by their king, Arma al-Najashi (Arabic: الـنَّـجاشِي), who later converted to Islam. Later that year, 101 Muslims followed him. Most of these Muslims returned to Medina in 7 AH / 628 AD, but some settled in the neighboring district (present-day Somalia), which was then part of Balad al-Barbar (Arabic: لاد الْـبَـرْبَـر, "Berbers"). He also reportedly built the oldest mosque in Africa, the Sahaba Mosque in Maswa, Eritrea. In this mosque the qiblah is still presented towards Mecca with correction.