Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

14 September 2024

3-minute read

A vast country of exceptional beauty, diverse cultures, and kind-hearted people, Argentina, the eighth largest country in the world, is off the beaten track for many. Although it is also in the Southern Hemisphere, this country is a long way from South Africa, but certainly not unreachable. For South Africans wanting to tour Argentina, there is the bonus of not having to apply for a visa in advance. The free visa is valid for 3 months and can be extended by another 3 months if one leaves the country for a short period and then returns. The easiest way to get to Argentina would be to fly from Johannesburg to Sao Paulo in Brazil, and from there to the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, or one of the next two largest cities of Cordoba or Rosario.

Argentina abounds with natural beauty, from deserts and mountains in the North to the cold Southern region where snowy weather and glaciers can be found. In the West are the Andes Mountains, and in the East, at the border with Brazil, Argentina connects to the Amazon where one can spend time in the awesome rainforests and witness wildlife galore.

Originally from Johannesburg, 22-year-old Abdullah Kharsany has been living in Argentina for almost twelve years since he emigrated with his parents. Abdullah stated that the main difference between South Africa and Argentina is the lack of many Muslims in the country and the absence of halal foods. The culture in Argentina is diverse, with a fusion of Arab, Spanish and Italian people. The locals are warm and friendly, and very open to the deen. Although there are not a lot of local Muslims, about 200 years ago, approximately 3 million Arabs migrated to South America and as they started integrating with the local people, they unfortunately went out of the fold of Islam and lost their Muslim identity. However, what they did retain was their Arab culture so the food, their Arabic names, and their Syrian-Lebanese Arab clubs are prevalent in every one of the 23 provinces. Established when the Arabs first arrived in Argentina, each of these clubs, or Islamic centers, has a small Musallah within. Whilst the elder people used to perform salaah, they did not encourage the youth at to join them, resulting in the loss of deen in Argentina. However, with the work of jamaat, there are many local reverts to Islam as well as an increasing number of Arabs who are also coming back to the deen.

The economic situation in Argentina is dire, but the country itself is not expensive. The currency is the peso and the official language is Spanish. Halal food is not easily available and there are very few halal restaurants. The most popular local dish is Assado, the ribs of the cow braaied over a slow fire. Abdullah calls Argentina an “open field” with people being very open and accepting to the message of Islam and to Muslims, and he encourages people to visit Argentina for an enriching and memorable experience.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Muhammad Kara and Ml Ibrahim Daya teh Saturday morning Travel Segment.