Islam in Mauritius

[1][2] Many Mauritian muslims are of Indian descent, tracing their origins to the large-scale migration of indentured laborers from India during the British colonial period.

Several religious groups including Muslim ones are recognized by parliamentary decree and receive state subsidies according to their percentage of the population.

Indentured labourers arrived on a large scale from India, mostly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bengal, and the cities of Kolkata and Mumbai.

There were a few families of wealthy Muslim traders from Gujarat which also settled along with the majority poor working classes.

[5] Cocknies, Kodjas, Bohras and Aga-khanities are believed to have arrived in Mauritius during 1910 from East Africa.

[7] Within the Muslim community, there are three distinct ethnic groups that exist, notably the Memons and the Surtees (who are rich merchants who came from Kutch and Surat province of Gujarat in India), then the "Hindi Calcattias" who came to Mauritius as indentured labourer from Bihar.

The government allows overseas missionary groups to operate on a case-by-case basis, although there are no rules that prohibit proselytizing activities.

The Jummah Mosque in Port Louis was built in the 1850s and is described in the Ministry of Tourism's guide as one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Mauritius.

The board helps executing funerals, imparting education in madraasas and all Islamic ceremonies.