Question

Why was the appearance of the West African Muslims startling to the scholars that came to Timbuktu?

Answer 1

During the rule of Mansa Musa, the Mali empire saw enormous developments. Mansa Musa conquered 24 cities, each with its surrounding districts containing villages and states. He was also well-known for being one of the richest people in history, as Mali was the largest producer of gold in the world.

Mansa Musa protected religious freedom in Mali, although he was a devout Muslim. With the construction of a university in Timbuktu, Mansa Musa invited Muslim scholars to visit the kingdom. These scholars were surprised to see the appearance of the Muslim people of Mali, as they followed traditional African dress codes. In particular, they were shocked at seeing that the women were unveiled and wore cool, colourful clothing, as opposed to the more somber attire worn by Middle Eastern women.