Rediscovering Our Roots: A Journey into African Islamic History with Shaykh Mustafa Briggs
From the coasts of Senegal to the streets of London, Shaykh Mustafa Briggs shares a journey that weaves together ancestry, faith, and identity. For many, the story of Islam in Africa is a footnote, an afterthought to a narrative centred elsewhere. But what if that narrative is incomplete? What if the history of Islam is deeply and inextricably linked with the African continent, its people, and its languages?
In a powerful episode of the OnePath Network Podcast, Shaykh Mustafa Briggs, a graduate of Al-Azhar University and a renowned historian, unpacks a legacy of African scholarship that challenges modern misconceptions. He shares his personal story of being raised in a Christian household by his Gambian grandmother, only to find his way back to Islam through the deep spiritual traditions of his West African ancestors, where faith is lived, not just performed.
This is a conversation about heritage, history, and the living light of Islam that has shone across Africa for generations.
A Tapestry of Ancestry: From Senegalese Royalty to Liberated Africans
Shaykh Mustafa’s story begins not in one place, but across a vibrant map of West Africa. While his father is Nigerian, his maternal lineage tells a remarkable story of migration, royalty, and resilience.
“My first ancestor to live in the Gambia was a Wolof Senegalese princess named Jojo Jao,” he shares, tracing his lineage back 20 generations to the kings of Kajor and Walo in Senegal. This royal heritage wasn’t just a title; it represented a culture where women held immense power and influence. Jojo Jao herself was a wealthy businesswoman who, upon settling in the Gambia, married a liberated African from Ghana named Thomas Kojo Grey Roberts.
This union highlights the other side of his ancestry: the Creole community. The Creoles were liberated Africans who returned to the continent after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, settling in places like Freetown, Sierra Leone. With British names like Roberts, Savage, and Jones, they brought with them a new culture and, often, the Christian faith adopted during their displacement.
This mixed heritage, of indigenous African royalty and formerly enslaved returnees, created a complex family identity that would profoundly shape his own journey.
Finding Identity: Growing Up African in Britain
Raised in London by his Gambian grandmother, Shaykh Mustafa never felt “British and black” but rather “African living in Britain.” His grandmother, who moved to the UK in the 1950s to study, played a pivotal role in grounding him in his heritage.
“She always instilled in me that don’t ever think that you’re British and forget where you come from,” he recalls. Regular trips to The Gambia for Christmas were a core part of his upbringing, connecting him to the land, culture, and people of his ancestors.
However, this connection also sparked a critical question. The Gambia is 97% Muslim, yet his family, due to their Creole lineage, was part of the Christian minority. This observation planted a seed of curiosity that would eventually blossom into a spiritual quest.
The Path Back to Islam: A Journey of Discovery
At 13 years old, Shaykh Mustafa officially embraced Islam. This wasn’t an act of rebellion but a return to his roots. As he studied the history of the region, he discovered a stark contrast:
- Islam spread through peaceful interaction, trade, and scholarship.
- Christianity arrived primarily through colonisation and the forced conversions of the transatlantic slave trade.
“If it wasn’t for this,” he realised, “my family would probably all be Muslim.”
His grandmother’s reaction was a testament to the religious harmony in West African societies. Instead of rejecting his choice, she supported it. Knowing the esteemed reputation of the Islamic scholars (Mashayikh) in neighbouring Senegal, she personally took him to meet them. In a powerful moment, she told the local Shaykh:
“This is our grandson… but now he loves you guys. He loves your religion, and he wants to be a part of you. So I’ve given him to you.”
This experience was a world away from the often-painful conversion stories in the West. It was a transfer of care, rooted in trust and community respect.
The Living Tradition: 3 Key Lessons from West African Scholars
His time with the Mashayikh in Senegal instilled in him profound lessons that challenge the modern, often performative, approach to faith. He distils their wisdom into three core principles:
- Embrace Islam as a Reality, Not a Performance. In West Africa, knowledge is transmitted in natural, informal settings. A teacher might lecture while lying down or sipping tea. Spirituality isn’t reserved for the mosque; it’s integrated into daily life, from household chores to market shopping. This teaches that Allah (SWT) should be just as present in your kitchen as in your prayer.
- Centre Your Life Around the Qur’an. West African scholars place immense emphasis on reciting the entire Qur’an weekly. It’s not just about memorisation but about making the Qur’an the lens through which you see the world. “You read some ayat in the morning,” he explains, “and in the day, you interact with a situation… and then you remember, ‘I just read this verse.'”
- Cultivate a Deep Love for the Prophet (ﷺ). West African Islam is anchored in a profound love for the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), in line with the hadith: “Your iman will never be complete until I become more dear to you than your parents, your children, and all of mankind.” This love is nurtured through poetry, stories, and a constant focus on his character and teachings.
Challenging the Narrative: Why “Beyond Bilal” Matters
Shaykh Mustafa’s work, particularly his book Beyond Bilal: Black History in Islam, addresses the anti-blackness and racism that persists within Muslim communities. Many people see a contradiction between their black identity and their faith, often because Islam is presented through a purely Arab or Asian cultural lens.
The Historical Precedent: Following Imam al-Jawzi and al-Suyuti
This work isn’t a modern reaction to social trends. It follows a long scholarly tradition. Nearly 900 years ago, the great scholar Imam Ibn al-Jawzi wrote Tanwir al-Ghabash (“Illuminating the Darkness on the Excellence of Black People”). He wrote it because black Muslims came to him questioning their place in Islam due to the racism they faced.
Centuries later, Imam al-Suyuti wrote a similar book. Shaykh Mustafa sees his work as a continuation of this essential tradition, educating the Ummah to heal the diseases of the heart.
Reclaiming History: Black Prophets, Companions, and Scholars
History has often been whitewashed, erasing the blackness of key figures in Islamic tradition. Shaykh Mustafa highlights that according to classical scholars:
- Prophet Adam (AS) was created from “black clay moulded into shape.”
- Prophet Musa (AS) was described as “extremely black,” so much so that his hand turning white was one of his miracles.
- Sumayyah bint Khabbat, the first martyr in Islam, was a black woman.
- Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa, one of the four primary teachers of the Qur’an among the Companions, was a black man.
By highlighting these figures, we challenge the subconscious bias that associates piety with lighter skin and remind us that Islam’s greatest heroes came from all backgrounds.
Did You Know? African Words in the Qur’an
Imam al-Suyuti and other classical scholars identified several words in the Qur’an that originate from East African (Habashi) languages. For example:
- Mishkat (مشكاة): The word for “niche” in the Verse of Light (24:35) is said to be of Habashi origin.
- Kiflain (كِفْلَيْنِ): The word for a “double portion” of reward (57:28) was a term understood by the Habashi Christians who converted to Islam.
This demonstrates the Qur’an’s universal address, speaking to humanity in terms it could understand and relate to.
Fortifying Faith Through History
Shaykh Mustafa Briggs’s journey is a powerful reminder that our history is not separate from our faith; it is the soil in which our faith is rooted. By uncovering the deep, rich, and diverse legacy of African Islamic history, we do more than correct the record. We provide an anchor for Muslims of African descent and a vital lesson for the entire Ummah: Islam belongs to no single race or culture.
To truly combat racism and anti-blackness, we must go beyond platitudes and educate ourselves on the true, multicultural story of our religion. In knowing the past, we gain the power to shape a better, more inclusive future.
To delve deeper into this topic, you can watch the full podcast on the OnePath Network or explore Shaykh Mustafa Briggs’s book, Beyond Bilal.