Final answer:
Mansa Musa believed Islam was about personal piety and social welfare, focusing on education and trade in Mali to promote Islamic practices. He did not pursue religious conquests but instead made Timbuktu a hub for Islamic studies and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mansa Musa's reforms and changes emphasized his belief that Islam was largely a matter of personal piety and social welfare. As the ruler who firmly established the Islamic religion in Mali, Mansa Musa sent students to Morocco for studies and laid the foundation for Timbuktu to become a bustling center for commerce and Islamic education. His actions demonstrated the importance he placed on creating an environment where Islam could flourish through learning and trading.
By establishing over one hundred schools and eighteen universities for Islamic studies, Mansa Musa emphasized education as a key element of Islamic life. In contrast to Askia the Great, another prominent African ruler, Mansa Musa did not engage in wars of religious conquest but focused on solidifying Mali as an Islamic state through peaceful means such as education, trade, and the patronage of scholars and the arts. Through his considerable efforts, Timbuktu became a symbol of Islamic culture and intellectualism during his reign.