History
Islam has a history with Britain dating to the 8th century. King Offa (757-796) minted an Arabic gold coin bearing the Islamic declaration of faith (shahadah). This history spans the hostilities of medieval Crusades to the British imperial era which brought the first Muslim communities to Britain. In the 19th century civil servants and intellectuals from colonial India came to Britain. Yemeni and Indian sailors also made their passage here. These ‘Lascars’ formed small transient communities around the docklands of Cardiff, Liverpool, London, and South Shields. Simultaneously, indigenous convert Muslims began to appear as small ‘Islamic’ communities in Liverpool, Woking and London. Many converts were from the British elite and ruling classes. They included Lord Headly Farooq (1855-1935) a distinguished statesman, Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall (1865-1936) translator of the Qur’an into English and Imam of the Woking Mosque, and Abdullah William Henry Quilliam (1856-1932) the ‘Shaykh ul-Islam’ for Great Britain

After the Second World War large numbers of immigrant workers were introduced to Britain as additional labour for the ‘economic boom’. As the migration process transformed from temporal and transient all-male communities into family based settled communities facilitation for the needs of the newly forming Muslim communities became a priority.

The establishment of Mosques and Islamic centres, specialist shops and socio-cultural centres and activities became an important feature in maintaining and inculcating a Muslim identity for second and third generation British Muslims

Objectives
The Islamic Foundation has established a research unit on Muslims in Britain as a section within its Islam in Europe Unit to study the historical encounters and contemporary situation of Muslims in Britain. The roots and impact of Islam in Britain can be traced to early medieval times and informing the public of the chronology of these events and characters provides important cultural anchorage by redressing the notion that Islam in Britain is merely a post-war experience.

Although only limited research and fragmented pieces of information currently exist, recent studies into early Muslim communities, exploring their initial encounters and experiences, have been undertaken.The contemporary presence of Muslims in Britain has initiated studies into intra-Muslim community concerns and external perceptions. In addition, the department researches the areas of ‘minority status’ Muslims and internal community debates on co-existence.

Activities
In addition to producing books, articles and papers on a number of issues on Muslims in Britain, the unit has organised a one-day seminar entitled, British Muslims: Loyalty and Belonging. The unit’s researchers have also presented a number of lectures and presentations around the country on various historical and contemporary aspects of Muslims in Britain including the National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service and the National Conference of Methodist Higher Education Chaplains.

Publications
Two publications have been produced to date, British Muslims: Loyalty and Belonging and British Muslims between Integration and Segregation: Historical, Legal and Social Realities. Another forthcoming publication is a school textbook entitled, Islam in Britain.

The department has written articles for the Church Times and the United Religions Initiative magazine and researchers have been cited in The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Times and The Sunday Times. The Unit has also contributed to Foreign and Commonwealth Office publication.

For furhter details about Muslims In Britain please contact:
m.seddon@islamic-foundation.org.uk