Religious networks and small businesses in Senegal

Senegalese religious groups historically have relied on their own networks to manage external challenges, such as colonialism, drought, and economic difficulties. Present‐day religious networks often use small businesses to economically support themselves. Drawing on ethnographic research in central Senegal, this article argues that strong religious networks, and practicing Islamic teachings of social welfare, are both the means of creating and the goal of economic stability. Economic gain is a tool with which business owners can support their families and local economies, enabling people to live a religious life within a supportive community.