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button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
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Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim, known for his prosperous reign of 25 years (1312 – 1337 CE) and his extravagant journey to Mecca. His grand travels and massive caravans intrigued many through the 14th century.<\/p>\n
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Centuries later, he is still considered the wealthiest man<\/a> to have ever lived.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1235 CE:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Islam spread to\u00a0Western Africa<\/a>\u00a0as early as the 8th century. The history of the Mali Empire (historically referred to as the Manden Kurufaba) before the 13th century is unclear due to conflicting accounts by Arab historians and oral traditionalists.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Accounts by Islamic historian Ibn Khaldun suggest, Sundiata Keita, a warrior prince, freed the people of Mali from the rule of the villainous king Soumaoro Kante in the Battle of Kirina. This conquest gave the Mali empire access to the trans-Saharan trade routes in 1235 CE.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He became the first ruler of the Keita dynasty and took control of the gold and salt trade, helping Mali become rich and powerful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1310 CE:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n King Abu Bakr II embarked on an expedition to explore the Atlantic Ocean leaving the empire of Mali in the hands of his deputy, Musa. Abu Bakr did not return.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1312 CE:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Subsequently, Musa became the 10th Sultan of the wealthy West African kingdom and inherited\u00a0Mali<\/a>\u00a0while it was still wealthy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to multiple accounts by Ibn Khaldun, the famous traveler Ibn Battuta and a 16th-century Moroccan traveler Leo Africanus, Mali was the largest empire in the West African province. It greatly influenced the culture of the region through the spread of its language, laws, and customs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1324 CE:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the 17th year of his rule, Mansa Musa decided to honor a significant Islamic tradition. He journeyed towards Mecca to perform Hajj. His journey, in other words, was a showcase of his generosity and his love for Islamic traditions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/connect.muslimpro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/iStock-851795446.jpg” alt=”Pilgrimage to Mecca, Hajj, Kaaba” title_text=”Kaaba” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta button_url=”#TOP” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_font_size=”44px” header_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”Noto Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”17px” use_background_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”17px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#ff6b5a” button_border_width=”5px” button_border_color=”#ff6b5a” button_border_radius=”100px” button_font=”Noto Sans|700||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” text_orientation=”left” background_layout=”light” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”11px|||||” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”34px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” button_text_color_hover=”#ffffff” button_border_color_hover=”#ff9e59″ button_bg_color_hover=”#ff9e59″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_color__hover=”#ff9e59″ button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#ff9e59″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 4000-mile journey was not taken alone. A caravan of over ten thousand soldiers, slaves, and heralds walked along with camels and horses carrying massive amounts of gold.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Accounts<\/a>\u00a0by Arab-Egyptian scholar Al Umari who visited Cairo 12 years after the Mansa’s visit, revealed natives praising Mansa M\u016bs\u0101. Such was the effect of his generosity and spending that he flooded the markets of Cairo with gold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upon returning from Mecca in 1324, Mansa Musa brought along scholars, bureaucrats, and architects. He established religious freedom. However, Islamic education flourished, and numerous mosques, libraries, and universities were built.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1327 CE:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mansa Musa is said to have built mosques every Friday. However, the\u00a0Djingareyber Mosque<\/a>\u00a0in Timbuktu stood the test of time. It is made entirely of soil, fiber, straw, and wood and stands even today.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He transformed Timbuktu from an insignificant settlement to the epicenter of his kingdom. It became one of the most prestigious cities in the world. Mansa supported active gold and salt trading. This made his capital a center of trade, scholarship, and religion.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\nRise of The Keita Dynasty<\/h2>\n
Mansa Musa and The Empire of Mali<\/h2>\n
The Pilgrimage to Mecca<\/h2>\n
The Great Mosque of Timbuktu<\/h2>\n