Islam was primarily introduced to the Kanem Empire (the precursor to Kanem-Bornu) by North African Muslim traders and scholars who traveled along the Trans-Saharan trade routes.

The official adoption of Islam by the ruling class is specifically attributed to:

• Mai Umme Jilmi (c. 1085–1097 CE): He was the first ruler of the Sayfawa dynasty to convert to Islam.
• Muhammad B. Mani: He was the scholar credited with teaching and converting Mai Umme Jilmi.

The spread of the religion was a gradual process:

• Early Influence (8th-11th Centuries): Islam’s first contacts were established through trade links with North African regions like Fezzan and Kawar (in modern Libya and Niger) from as early as the 8th century. Muslim Berber and Arab merchants brought the religion and its ideas to the region.
• Royal Adoption (11th Century): The conversion of Mai Umme Jilmi established Islam as the official religion of the court, beginning a long tradition where the rulers were devout Muslims who sponsored Islamic scholarship, maintained diplomatic ties with the wider Islamic world (like Egypt and Tunisia), and promoted the faith.
• Institutionalization: Later rulers, such as Mai Idris Alooma (16th century), further solidified and institutionalized Islam by replacing traditional laws with Sharia (Islamic law) and establishing Qadi (Islamic judges) courts.