Missionary Movements

Probably no religion has been more zealous in its missionary activity than Islam, conversion in many instances going hand in hand with conquest. Muslim missionary activity as such, however, was largely the work of individuals, principally Arab merchants and travelers in Africa, until the end of the 19th century. Systematic missionary endeavor began then with the founding of the Ahmadiyya Movement in 1889. Missionary activity has been particularly successful in eastern and western Africa, and small missions have been established in several European countries and in the U.S. The appeal in the latter country has been mainly to the black population.