Islam is the majority religion of The Gambia, with around 90% of the population being Muslims. However, some popular religions practices diverge from mainstream Islam, with a system of marabout societies being very common. There is no Shi'ite following in the country. Gambia became a Muslim state largely because of the efforts of 19th century Muslim proselytizers and the peaceful period during British colonization. The Muslim sense of tolerance in Gambia is largely the work of present leadership, which decided to build on the colonial legacy of religious pluralism.
