Papua New Guinea – the most populous Pacific Island Country, is a country in Oceania that includes the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. Its neighboring countries include Indonesia, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. Moreover, the country is also widely known for its ample resources, friendly citizens, and linguistic diversity, with more than 800 languages spoken by the several ethnic groups on the island.
Since Papua New Guinea has a secular constitution, Muslims can practice their faith. However, Muslim residents have reported discrimination and incidents of Islamophobia from the government and the public over the years. Muslim and Quran aims to provide accurate prayer timings for the residents of the country. Different cities may have different prayer times, but you can find all the timings on the relevant city pages below.
Here we provide you with valuable information if you’re a Muslim who is planning to move to Papua New Guinea or have already moved but find it challenging to find relevant Islamic information about practicing the glorious faith of Islam in the country.
Although there are conflicting reports about how Islam came to Papua New Guinea, it is reported that Muslim traders and their network were active in the region during the 16th to 19th centuries. Additionally, during the 17th and late 18th centuries, Muslim merchants from Seram traveled to Papua New Guinea for trading purposes. These led to an increase in business and contact with the Seramese Muslims and the people of The Trans Fly Savanna and Grasslands.
There was also a heavy presence of Makassarese Muslim merchants and laborers in the region. Therefore, there has been Islamic history in the region over the years.
Since Papua New Guinea is a Christian-majority nation, it is important to be mindful of the food you consume during your stay on the island. Although halal dining options may not be impossible to find, they are surely rare to come across. Therefore, make sure to confirm what you're consuming before you consume it, and if you're unable to find halal food nearby, stick to vegetarian food.
Some of the best halal food and dining options in the region include:
One can never go wrong with some spicy yet scrumptious Indian food. Tasty Bite Indian Restaurant offers excellent service with a diverse menu including vegan and vegetarian options.
Excellent food, quality, and service – the Cellar Restaurant is another halal restaurant in Port Moresby you can visit. The restaurant offers a range of Indian food you can enjoy!