Discover Bahrain : Religions

In Bahrain, Islam permeates every aspect of daily life. Calls to prayer five times a day, Ramadan fasting, grandiose mosques... In this small Gulf kingdom, where 99.8% of Bahrainis identify themselves as Muslims, religion is inseparable from the local culture. And yet, beyond this apparent homogeneity, Bahrain is home to genuine religious diversity. While the Shiite majority coexists with a Sunni elite, the archipelago is also home to Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs... and even a small Jewish community, the only one still active in the Gulf. This often unsuspected plurality reflects the history of a country at the crossroads of the Arab, Persian and Indian worlds, where freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution, despite sometimes heated sectarian tensions, as during the Arab Spring in 2011, when the Shiite majority rebelled against Sunni rule.

Bahrain, land of Islam

Bahrain, land of Islam: officially, 99.8% of Bahraini citizens are Muslims. But if we take into account the entire population living in the archipelago - largely made up of immigrant workers - this proportion falls to around 70%. Between 70% and 75% of native Bahrainis belong to Shi'ite Islam, which recognizes the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali, as his true successor. They follow the teachings of the ayatollahs, and have their own religious festivals and traditions, sometimes quite different from those of Sunnism.

This Shiite majority can be explained by the history of the archipelago, long under Persian domination in the XVIIᵉ and XVIIIᵉ centuries. It coexisted with a Sunni elite, descended from tribes from the Arabian Peninsula. The ruling Al-Khalifa family, which has ruled Bahrain since 1783, is Sunni. This religious difference between a large part of the population and its political and military leaders regularly fuels tension and frustration. It was one of the triggers for the 2011 uprising.

Sunnism and Wahhabism

While the Al-Khalifas are Sunni, some observers also associate them with Wahhabism, a rigorist movement founded in the 18th century by the preacher Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab. Rejecting all innovation alien to the Koran and Sunna, this school of Islam, often considered radical, forbids the invocation of saints and refuses all religious representation. According to this doctrine, to be a good Muslim, one must live as in the time of the Prophet. Wahhabism has long been linked to Saudi Arabia, through an alliance between the political power of the Sauds and the religious authorities.

In Bahrain, mosques follow a sober architectural style. They are always oriented towards Mecca, with a mihrab - a wall niche indicating the direction of Mecca - a minaret from which the muezzin calls for prayer five times a day, and a minbar (pulpit) where the imam delivers his sermons. Ablutions are obligatory before prayer: worshippers wash their hands, face and feet in a special water basin, usually just outside the mosque.

The five pillars of Islam

The practice of Islam revolves around five pillars: the profession of faith(chahada), ritual prayer(salat), legal almsgiving(zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan(sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca(hajj). In Bahrain, prayer is an omnipresent part of daily life: at home, in mosques, but also in shopping malls and airports, which have special rooms so that you don't miss one of the five daily prayers. Ramadan is a central period in religious and social life. For a month, the faithful abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset. At nightfall, the fast is broken over traditional dishes with family and friends. Working hours are adjusted, and the whole country lives mainly at night. Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, is one of Bahrain's biggest celebrations: gifts are sometimes given and gargantuan meals are organized.

Another important festival is the Shiite Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet. On this occasion, processions are organized, and believers dress in black as a sign of mourning. These celebrations, which are particularly visible in the Shiite districts of Manama and Muharraq, are a reminder that Bahraini Islam is profoundly plural.

Preserving religious freedom

Bahrain officially guarantees freedom of worship. A religious plurality made possible by the massive presence of immigrant workers from the Indian subcontinent, the Philippines and East Africa. In the streets of Manama, you'll find Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, Christian churches of all denominations, and even a synagogue.

Christians make up around 14% of the resident population, mostly from the Philippines. But a small community of Arab Christians has lived in the archipelago for generations - around a thousand people, attached to the Church of the East. The first European Christian mission dates back to 1896. Since then, several churches have been built, including Sacred Heart Church, founded in 1939 for Catholics, and Saint Christopher's Anglican Cathedral. Masses are celebrated daily in several languages, including English, Tagalog, Hindi - and sometimes even French.

Hindus have several places of worship, including Manama's ancient Krishna Temple, located right in the city center. Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated here every autumn. Similarly, shopping mall windows are decked out in Christmas decorations from December onwards, even though the festival is not officially recognized.

The oldest Jewish community in the Gulf

Bahrain is also distinguished by the presence of the only Jewish community still active in the Gulf monarchies. Settled in the XIXᵉ century, these Iraqi Jews have experienced periods of tension - notably after the Second World War - but have always kept their synagogue in Manama. Now reduced to a handful of families, the community enjoys total freedom of worship and maintains close ties with the monarchy. One of its representatives, Houda Nonoo, was even appointed Bahraini ambassador to the United States between 2008 and 2013, becoming the first female Jewish ambassador to an Arab country.

An Islam rooted in society

In Bahrain, religion profoundly structures daily life. The State supports numerous charities through the Zakat and Charity Fund, which collects voluntary donations for redistribution to the most needy. This form of religious taxation remains highly respected by Bahrainis of all faiths. In a kingdom where sectarian tensions are never far away, religion is both a marker of identity and a factor of stability... and sometimes the cause of deep rifts in society.