Muslims In Belize: A Community Overview

Belize is a predominantly Christian country, with Islam being one of the smallest minority faiths. Muslims have been present in Belize since the 18th century, with the first mosque being established in Belize City. The Muslim population is estimated to be around 577, or 0.2% of the total population, with some estimates placing the figure at 600. The Muslim community in Belize is vibrant and growing, with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat gaining a strong following since 2013.

Islam is one of the smallest minority faiths in Belize

The introduction of Islam to Belize was influenced by the teachings of the Nation of Islam, which gained a following among some Belizeans before transitioning to mainstream Islam. This transition was influenced by key figures such as Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. Today, there are a few scattered mosques around the country, with a notable concentration in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. The Muslim community in San Pedro was established by the Harmouches, a Lebanese family who immigrated to Belize in the 1980s and built the Masjed Al-Akramin mosque in 2000.

The Islamic Mission of Belize (IMB) is headquartered in Belize City, where the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community has been present since 2013 and built the Masjid Noor Mosque in 2020. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat community has a membership of about 200 from across Belize and has three mosques in the country. The Muslim Community Primary School (MCPS), recognised by the government in 1978, offers Islamic and elementary-level academic courses to Muslim and non-Muslim children. While Islam is a small minority faith in Belize, the country's constitution establishes religious freedom and prohibits discrimination on religious grounds.

The Muslim population in Belize is estimated to be 577

Belize is a predominantly Christian country, with Islam being one of its smallest minority faiths. The Muslim population in Belize is estimated to be 577, representing 0.2% of the total population. However, other sources suggest there are 600 Muslims in Belize.

The history of Islam in Belize is tied to the history of the British Empire. In the mid-19th century, a handful of Indian Muslims moved to the country. Today, there is also an Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which has been present in the country since 2013 and has a membership of about 200 from across Belize. They have three mosques in the country, with the Masjid Noor in Belize City, and others in Belmopan and Orange Walk.

The introduction of Islam to Belize is closely linked to the teachings of the Nation of Islam, which centres on the "superiority" of the Black race and the belief that "Blackman is the original man". However, these doctrines were eventually discarded by Muslims in Belize, who transitioned to mainstream Islam. This shift was influenced by key figures such as Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.

The Muslim Community Primary School (MCPS) in Belize, which offers Islamic and elementary-level academic courses to Muslim and non-Muslim children, was recognised by the government in 1978.

The Harmouche family, a Lebanese family that immigrated to Belize in the 1980s, is central to the country's Muslim community

The Harmouches are now a pillar of San Pedro's community, with their hardware business at the heart of the town. They are also central to the town's small but vibrant Muslim community. The mosque's imam is Lebanese-born Malak Harmouche, who is also a full-time hardware store owner. Malak moved to Belize over 20 years ago and has been the imam since the mosque was built in 2000. He refuses to take a stipend for his religious duties, saying, "I do this work for Allah's blessing alone".

The Muslim community in San Pedro is largely made up of members of the Harmouche family or those invited to do business in Belize by the family. There are only three or four Muslims on the island who are converts, usually the wives of Lebanese-Belizean businessmen. The Harmouches have helped build a community where Muslims are "like anyone else", contributing to the local economy and coexisting peacefully with other faith groups.

Belize has a few scattered mosques across the country

Belize is a predominantly Christian country, with Islam being one of its smallest minority faiths. While the exact number of Muslims in Belize is unknown, estimates range from 577 to 620, or 0.2% to 0.5% of the total population. Despite their small number, Muslims in Belize have a few scattered mosques across the country and a dynamic presence.

The Islamic Mission of Belize (IMB), headquartered in Belize City, has three mosques in the country: Masjid Noor in Belize City, and others in Belmopan and Orange Walk. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, a fast-growing sect of Islam in Belize, also has a presence in the country with a membership of about 200 from across Belize. They built the Masjid Noor Mosque in Belize City at the beginning of 2020.

The history of Islam in Belize is tied closely to the history of the British Empire and the struggle for Belize's independence. In the mid-19th century, a handful of Indian Muslims moved to Belize, and the earliest Muslim immigration to the country is linked to this historical period. Additionally, the teachings of the Nation of Islam, introduced by Charles Eagan in the early 1960s, played a role in the initial conversions of some Belizeans to Islam.

The Muslim community in Belize is diverse, with members hailing from various ethnic and racial backgrounds. The Harmouches, a Lebanese family who immigrated to Belize in the 1980s, are central to the Muslim community in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The small yet vibrant community of around 200 Muslims is either directly related to the Harmouches or connected to them through business invitations. Outside of this close-knit group, there are a few converts to Islam, mostly wives of Lebanese-Belizean businessmen.

The Muslim Community Primary School (MCPS), recognised by the government in 1978, offers Islamic and elementary-level academic courses to Muslim and non-Muslim children. It is one of the contributions of the Muslim community to the broader Belizean society, demonstrating their integration and positive impact on the country.

Muslims have been in Belize since the 18th century

In the mid-19th century, a handful of Indian Muslims moved to Belize. Today, there is an Ahmadiyyah Muslim Community in Belize, with a membership of about 200 from across the country. There are three mosques in Belize: Masjid Noor in Belize City, and mosques in Belmopan and Orange Walk. The Muslim Community Primary School (MCPS) was recognised by the government in 1978 and offers Islamic and elementary-level academic courses to Muslim and non-Muslim children.

Islam is one of the smallest minority faiths in Belize, which is a predominantly Christian country. The total Muslim population is estimated to be 577, representing 0.2% of the total population. However, other estimates suggest there are 600 Muslims in Belize.

In Belize, San Pedro's Muslim community revolves around the Harmouches, a Lebanese family who immigrated in the 1980s. The island town of San Pedro has a population of just over 13,000, of whom some 200 are Muslims. This small yet vibrant Muslim community was launched by a single adventurous Lebanese family—the Harmouches. The mosque in San Pedro is led by part-time imam and full-time hardware store owner, Malak Harmouche.

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