Outside of Europe is a known region called the Caribbean Islands, which consists of three different Islands. These three Islands are Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, or BES islands. BES stands for the Bijzondere Eilandelijke Status, which means special island status. European Union Law does not apply to these islands; they are run freely by the public living there. In the Netherlands Antilles, there are about 2,500 Muslims on different islands, of which 1000 reside in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Islam is the minority religion here, and most of the Muslim communities built here are of immigrants who migrated from countries like Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, and Suriname. During the colonial times in these countries, Muslims migrated to this part of the world in search of necessities like food or a way to earn. The Muslim population is growing here since there were only 2000 Muslims in 1982.
Traveling to the Caribbean Islands as Muslims can be a bit difficult as the Muslim community there is relatively small. Hence connecting to the community, locating places to worship, and eating halal food are essential before you go there. Islam teaches us to pray five times daily without missing any obligatory prayer.
If you are new to the place and want to know prayer times in Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, Saba, or any other islands in the Caribbean, here is how you can do it. You can log in to the MuslimandQuran website or download the app on your mobile. The app will automatically track your location and send you notifications during prayer times. This is the easiest way to catch your prayers on time and connect with Allah even when traveling.
There are multiple big and small organizations and services serving the Muslim community. These organizations aim to guard the rights of Muslims while providing them with Islamic education and places to worship. Considering the religious diversity here, these organizations are crucial for the unity of the community as they provide social and spiritual support.
Kralendijk, the capital of Bonaire has a majority Muslim population and is the central hub for social services. Muslims in Saint Eustatius actively participate in the betterment of the community in the Caribbean islands. However, Saba, the smallest of the island, has no major religious organizations. Muslims here travel to the neighboring islands to connect to the community, especially on occasions like Eid, and attend gatherings and events.
The number of worship places and education centers signifies the dominance of religion in a particular country. The Caribbean islands are surrounded by many institutions that are made to provide education mainly to the Muslim community in this region. The places of worship like mosques and madrassas are also a great source of education for the Muslims here.
Bonaire Islamic Center, Kaya Hanchi Amboina, Bonaire is one of the known centers that provides a place to the community where they can freely perform the five daily prayers and the special Jumu’ah prayer. Salatut-tarawih is performed there during Ramadan, and Muslims can unite there for iftar. Children are provided with the Maktab classes and adults with the weekly Dars. This is a great source to educate people about the principles and values of Islam. Bonaire Islamic Center also provides Matrimonial, Nikkah, and Janazah facilities.
Sint Eustatius Islamic Foundation, located in Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius is another place for worship and education for Muslims. Muslim Student Association and the University Of Sint Eustatius School Of Medicine are a few other big names where education facilities are provided to the children. These places play a significant role in uniting the Muslims in the region and also spreading education so more and more people can get the facilities to know about the religion of Islam.