[2] Islam was first introduced to Guyana via enslaved people from West Africa, but was suppressed on plantations until Muslims from British India were brought to the country as indentured labour.
However, the oppressive conditions of slavery in the colony led the practice of Islam to essentially disappear until 1838 when 240,000 South Asians were brought from modern-day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Some of the earliest organizations include Queenstown Jama Masjid (founded 1895), the Young Men's Muslim Literary Society (1926) and the United Sad’r Islamic Anjuman (1949).
In 1996, President Cheddi Jagan of Guyana toured Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon and appointed a Middle Eastern envoy.
[7] In August 2020, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali became president of Guyana and first practising Muslim head of state in South America.
[14] Guyanese Hindustani, Hindi, and Urdu is popular among Indo-Guyanese Muslims who watch films and listen to music from Bollywood.
[15] Political antagonism between Indo-Guyanese Muslims and Hindus is virtually non-existent, in contrast to India or other Indian diasporic communities such as Fiji.
The GIT has dedicated itself to the process of bringing about intellectual, moral and spiritual improvement to individuals, families and communities in Guyana.
Some of GIT's works include organizing classes, social activities, and youth programs, as well as partnering with Jamaats, and da’wah to Non-Muslims.