The beginning of the spread of Islam in West Africa was the result of the Da‘wah activities of the Islamic countries that were founded there, the most important of which was the State of Al-Muraabiteen (Almoravids).

They sent callers to Islam to many parts of the African continent until they reached Gabon. They established a Ribaat (a Muslim community serving both religious and military functions) wherever they descended. The other factor that helped in the spread of Islam in West Africa was the countries that emerged in those regions such as Ghana and Mali. In modern times, Islamic Da‘wah activities in West Africa were carried out on a wide scale by the Fulani countries, such as Shaihu ‘Uthmaan dan Fodio state in northern Nigeria and the Movement of Hajj ‘Umar.

What also boosted the spread of Islam was the tribal lifestyle. When a ruler of a tribe embraced Islam, this encouraged many members of his tribe to convert to Islam as well. Moreover, the movement of the tribes in pursuit of pastures or their rush to the south under pressure from the north put them in contact with other tribes to whom they introduced to Islam. The penetration of Islam into the south, towards the Gulf of Ghana, was due to the movement of these tribes which had embraced Islam, and the spread of preachers and callers to Islam among the various tribes.

The population of Muslims in these lands increased to 50% of the total population. If it were not for the pressures of colonialism and the colonizers’ striving to hinder the spread of Islam in West Africa, Islam would have prevailed in the entire region. These colonizers facilitated missionary work, allowing missionaries to supervise education and provide aid to Muslims in order to tempt Muslims to apostatize.
The penetration of Islam into West Africa in general and in the Hausa land in particular was due to many reasons, some of which were:
1 – Muslim scholars and callers to Allaah were conscious of their due responsibility to call to Allaah and deliver the message of Islam wherever they settled.

2 – The simplicity and moderation of the Islamic doctrine. The Islamic doctrine is consistent with common sense, easily understood by the mind, and does not need prolonged explanations, clarifications or proofs with philosophical, logical or literary terms. It is an easy understandable set of beliefs for the young and the old alike. No one finds any difficulty in recognizing the truthfulness of the Islamic beliefs and their agreement and consistency with common sense.

The spread of Islam in West Africa was not due to one factor, but there were various factors, multiple roles, and diverse groups that helped, after the Grace of Allaah, in spreading Islam. Some of these groups were:

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