Islam in Cuba is a small but growing religious minority, despite the country’s long history of atheistic and Catholic dominance.

History of Islam in Cuba

Possible Early Presence:

• Some historians suggest that enslaved West Africans, brought to Cuba during the transatlantic slave trade (16th–19th centuries), may have included Muslims.
• However, there is no continuous Islamic tradition from this period.

Modern Revival:

• Islam reappeared in the 1990s, after Cuba’s government began allowing more religious freedoms following decades of state atheism under Communism.
• Interest in Islam grew through foreign students, diplomats, tourists, and da‘wah (missionary) efforts, including influence from Muslim visitors from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Current Islamic Presence:
Population:

• The Muslim population is estimated at around 4,000 to 6,000 people out of Cuba’s 11 million population.
• Most are Cuban converts to Islam, with a small number of Muslim diplomats, students, and visitors from Muslim-majority countries.

Mosques & Islamic Centers:

• The first official mosque in Cuba, the Abdullah Mosque (Mezquita Abdallah), opened in Havana in 2015, in a renovated building provided by the Cuban government.
• There are also a few informal prayer spaces (musallahs) in Havana and other cities.

Islamic Organizations:

• The main Islamic group is the Islamic League of Cuba (Liga Islámica de Cuba).
• The community organizes Friday prayers (Jumu‘ah), Islamic education classes, and Ramadan celebrations.

Halal Food & Facilities:

• Halal food is very limited in Cuba.
• Muslims often rely on vegetarian or seafood options when eating out and practice patience with the country’s strict food supply system.

Challenges:

• Limited resources: Few books, scholars, or Islamic schools.
• Lack of halal food: Muslims must navigate Cuba’s general food shortages.
• Misunderstanding: Islam remains largely unfamiliar to the general Cuban public.

However, religious freedom is legally guaranteed, and the government has supported the establishment of the mosque.

International Support:

• Some Islamic countries (like Turkey and Saudi Arabia) have provided aid, including Qur’ans, prayer rugs, and funds for mosque renovations.
• Muslim diplomats from Middle Eastern and African embassies in Havana also support local Islamic activities.

Summary:
Islam in Cuba is a tiny but visible religious community, made up mostly of Cuban converts. With the opening of the Abdullah Mosque in Havana and the rise of religious freedom, the Muslim community is slowly growing despite limited resources and public knowledge about Islam.

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Cuba
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .cu
Country Code: +53