Islam In Ghana
Islam spread through North Africa by conquest, but it spread through the south by trade. Teachers and merchants who practiced Islam settled the in south and showed others their faith. Ghana's rulers then converted to Islam. By the 1300's, the king's advisers were Muslim, and helped the king run the country.
People in Ghana still believed in animism, the belief that natural objects have a spirit, and play an important part in life, however. Even though the rulers of Ghana were Muslim, many of the people never converted. Those who did convert also belief partly in animism along with Islam. Islam also encouraged literacy. To study the Qur'an, Muslims had to learn Arabic.
ISlam in MAli
Islam in Mali was also very prominent and important. After Sundiata's death, the next rulers were are muslim. They did things like built mosques, or places of worship in Islam, as well as attending public prayer and supporting the preachings of muslim holy men. Mali also attracted many people because of its famous Islamic buildings. It brought muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders, and scholars. Most famous of all, it brought Ibn Battuta, a historian and traveler. Mansa Musa also incorporated many of Islam's laws into Mali's laws.