Comoros

Indian-Ocean island federal republic where Islam is the state religion; Sunni Islam was established by Arab and Persian (Shīrāzī) traders and the Shīrāzī sultanates that wove the islands into the Indian-Ocean world, and Comorians are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.

☾ The Coming of Islam

Sunni Islam by Arab, Persian and Swahili trade

Islam came to the Comoros with Arab and Persian (Shīrāzī) traders who, tradition holds, established Sunni Islam and founded the Shīrāzī sultanates that tied the islands into the Swahili Indian-Ocean world of commerce.

The Shīrāzī foundation of the islands' sultanates follows local tradition.

☾ Religious Composition

An overwhelmingly Sunni-Muslim society

Comorians are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, and Islam is the state religion; Comorian religious and social life reflects the islands' Swahili-Arab heritage.

Demographic shares are approximate.

At a glance