Historical Context of Islam in Brazil
Understanding the roots and evolution of the Muslim presence in Brazil, from early colonial times to modern community formation.
The history of Islam in Brazil dates back to the country's earliest colonial period. Historical records indicate Muslim presence in Brazil since the arrival of Pedro Álvares Cabral's expedition in 1500, which included sailors of Arab origin.
However, the most significant early Muslim presence came through the Atlantic slave trade, which brought large contingents of Muslim Africans to Brazilian shores.
Muslim slaves in Brazil maintained their religious identity despite forced conversions to Catholicism. They were often called "mouriscos" by their Portuguese masters but continued practicing Islam in secret.
This resistance culminated in one of Brazil's most significant slave rebellions—the 1835 Malê Revolt in Bahia, organized by Muslim slaves fighting against the slavery system. Historians note the remarkable organization of this movement, which reflected elements of Jihad Fi Sabilillah ("struggle for the cause of Allah").
Though the revolt was suppressed, it contributed to weakening the slave system in Brazil.
A new wave of Muslims arrived in Brazil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily Syrian and Lebanese immigrants who settled during World War I, around the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
These immigrants established the first formal Islamic institutions in Brazil, founding the Palestinian Muslim Benevolent Society in São Paulo in 1927. Since then, the community has grown through continued immigration and conversions.