Somaliland Religion

Somaliland Religion:

Somali culture is strongly informed by Islam, which first arrived at coastal ports such as Zeila in the 7th century ad, possibly during the lifetime of the prophet Muhammad, and was widespread in the interior at least 800 years ago. Islam is the official state religion of Somaliland; indeed, the territory’s constitution prohibits the  promotion  of  any  other  faith,  asserts  that  its  laws  must  be  grounded  on Islamic  principles,  and  is  to  discourage  acts  and  behavior  considered  immoral or  reprehensible  under  them.  As  a  result,  Islamic  law  dictates  most  facets  of day-to-day  life:  people  generally  dress  in  traditional  Islamic  robes,  with  women almost always donning a hijab veil in public; the consumption of pork is taboo; alcohol is not only illegal but more or less unobtainable; secular music and books are limited in availability; the Sabbath is taken on Friday; and the five daily prayer calls dictate the daily rhythms of life to an extent rare elsewhere in Islamic parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Most Somalilander’s belongs to the Shafi’I school of the Sunni branch of Islam, but a minority adheres to the Shi’ite branch. The more mystical form of Islam known as Sufism also has a strong hold in Somaliland and it was strongly associated with the early 20th century Dervish movement led by Sayyid Muhammad. Koranic schools, called duqsi, have long been the most important medium of instruction in Somalia, and  even  today  they  form  the  only  available  educational  opportunity  for  many Somalilanders, particularly among the rural nomads. Historically, Christianity has had an occasional presence in the region, first during periods of localized Ethiopian occupation  and  more  recently  during  the  British  and  Italian  occupations  of  the north and south, but it has no significant presence here today.