The 21 Century New Muslim Generation Converts in Britain And
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The 21st Century New Muslim Generation Converts in Britain and Germany Submitted by Caroline Neumueller to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Arab and Islamic Studies October 2012 1 2 Abstract The dissertation focuses on the conversion experiences and individual processes of twenty-four native British Muslim converts and fifty-two native German Muslim converts, based on personal interviews and completed questionnaires between 2008 and 2010. It analyses the occurring similarities and differences among British and German Muslim converts, and puts them into relation to basic Islamic requirements of the individual, and in the context of their respective social settings. Accordingly, the primary focus is placed on the changing behavioural norms in the individual process of religious conversion concerning family and mixed-gender relations and the converts’ attitudes towards particularly often sensitive and controversial topics. My empirical research on this phenomenon was guided by many research questions, such as: What has provoked the participants to convert to Islam, and what impact and influence does their conversion have on their (former and primarily) non-Muslim environment? Do Muslim converts tend to distance themselves from their former lifestyles and change their social behavioural patterns, and are the objectives and purposes that they see themselves having in the given society directed to them being: bridge-builders or isolators? The topic of conversion to Islam, particularly within Western non-Muslim societies is a growing research phenomenon. At the same time, there has only been little contribution to the literature that deals with comparative analyses of Muslim converts in different countries. This dissertation is based on the conversion research methods by Wohlrarb- Sahr (1999) and Zebiri (2008), and further concentrates on the acute challenges and personal understandings of Muslim converts regarding cultural, religious, and moral changes, changes in belief and adoption of religious practices as well as social relations. Dissatisfaction with the former faith or given social norms, the appeal of the Muslim tenets, the search for identity and the desire to have a sense of belonging included the participants’ motivation for conversion. Taking the former into consideration enabled the result of providing a personal, lively yet rational insight into the lives of British and German Muslim converts. 3 4 Acknowledgments This dissertation was prepared under the supervision of Professor Robert Gleave and Professor Sajjad Rizvi, to whom I am very grateful for their assistance, guidance and advice throughout the entire research. Particularly Professor Robert Gleave’s comments and criticisms on my research methods and draft copies greatly facilitated my work. I would like to express my gratitude to both of them for encouraging me to select and proceed with this dissertation topic. I am thankful to my proof-readers Mrs. Sara Wilkinson and Mr. Mike Rose- Steel for their unfailing dedication, continuous enthusiasm, and generous feedback, and numerous colleagues and fellow Ph.D. students, particularly from the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, for their advice, assistance, interest in my research, and won friendships. Special thanks are due to all the participants involved who have allowed me to enter their lives and to share their experiences and insights which made this dissertation possible. None of this work could have happened without their help, time and hospitality. It has been a rewarding learning experience for me. I am unable to list all of the benefactors who have contributed to this research, but I am endlessly grateful for every person who has directly and indirectly been involved. I would like to give my greatest thanks to my husband for his continuous encouragement, pushing me past limits I had not known without him, enlightening conversations, and always being there for me. And finally, I would like to thank God for the given challenges, opportunities and learning experiences. As a small token of gratitude, I would like to dedicate this research study to all those who express flexibility in their attitudes towards others, especially when it comes to cultural and religious diversity. “The fear of difference is a source of hate. However, difference is supposed to be a source of enrichment.” 5 6 Table of Contents Abstract..............................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................5 Table of Contents...............................................................................................................7 List of accompanying material..........................................................................................9 List of Abbreviations........................................................................................................10 Cha ter 1 Introduction 1.1. British and German Muslim converts: Alike or different? 12 1.2. The Research Question 17 1.3. Scientific approach to religious conversion 18 1.4. Contributions to the field of conversion to Islam in Britain and Germany 22 1.5. Methodology and fieldwork 23 1.6. Chapter overview 29 Cha ter 2 Religious conversion 2.1. Introduction 32 2.2. Definitions of religious conversion 33 2.3. Early religious conversion research 34 2.4. Recent scholarly contributions 37 2.5. Conversion to Islam 39 2.6. Diverse conversion dimensions, social class and gender 43 Cha ter 3 History of Conversion to Islam 3.1. Introduction 47 3.2. Early conversions to Islam 49 3.3. The phenomenon of conversion to Islam in Europe 51 3.4. Conversion to Islam in Britain 60 3.4.1. Up to 1900: The bonding with Christian rituals 61 3.4.2. 1900-1950: The establishment of British mosques and Islamic institutions 64 3.4.3. 1950-2000: A period of emerging and embracing Sufism 67 3.4.4. From 2000: Combining Britishness with Islam: A tremendous challenge of perceptions or cultural conflict? 70 3.5. Conversion to Islam in Germany 73 3.5.1. Up to 1900: The emergence of the Oriental fashion and military influenced conversions 74 3.5.2. 1900-1950: The Ahmadiyyah – Integration of Islam into German society 77 3.5.3. 1950-2000: Caught between resistance and embracement of Islamic ideologies 80 3.5.4. From 2000: The development of converts being bridge-builders or isolators 87 Cha ter 4 Why Islam ' Develo ing a Convert Muslim Identity 4.1. Introduction 91 4.2. As a non-Muslim in a Muslim country 93 4.3. Spirituality and reason 98 4.4. Cultural traditions –A keeper? 106 4.5. A convert’s acquisition of religious knowledge 114 4.6. Forming a convert’s Muslim identity 121 7 Table of Contents Cha ter 5 Islamic Obligations and Dietary Laws 5.1. Introduction 132 5.2. The five pillars of Islam 133 5.3. Islamic Dietary Laws 152 5.4. The challenge of religious compliance 169 Cha ter ,- .amily and .riends 6.1. Introduction 171 6.2. The family 173 6.3. The friends 184 6.4. Retaining or ending friendships 193 6.5. Changing the circle of friends 200 6.6. The influence of religious conversion on family and friends. 205 Cha ter 7- Courtshi and Marriage 7.1. Introduction 210 7.2. Behavioural change towards the opposite sex 213 7.3. Premarital relationships: A sin or a blessing? 219 7.4. Courtship: “Islamic dating” 224 7.5. Marriage: “Half of the deen”? 229 7.6. The choice of marital partner: Muslim or non-Muslim? 234 Cha ter 0- Converts on sensitive 1Islamic2 Issues 8.1. Introduction 244 8.2. Male circumcision: An Islamic obligation or a cultural-religious tradition? 246 8.3. Virginity: Important for both sexes? 254 8.4. Masturbation: Permitted or prohibited? 262 8.5. Polygamy: Is this practice permissible today? 271 8.6. Homosexuality: Religious abandonment or social acceptance? 282 Cha ter 3- The logic of an 4unlogical5 o tion 9.1. Introduction 294 9.2. Synopsis of the country comparison 296 9.3. Muslim converts form a counter culture 308 9.4. British and German Muslim converts: Bridge-builders or isolators? 311 Appendices.....................................................................................................................317 Glossary.........................................................................................................................434 Bibliography..................................................................................................................439 8 List of accom anying material Appendix I Tables to Chapter 4 Appendix II Tables to Chapter 5 Appendix III Tables to Chapter 6 Appendix IV Incorporation of Islamic rituals (Text formerly in Chapter 4) Appendix V Punishment as a deterrent to premarital sexuality (Text formerly in Chapter 5) Appendix VI Empty Questionnaire Samples in English and in German Appendix VII Completed Questionnaire Samples in English and in German* Appendix VIII Short biographies of the individual British and German participants *The remaining interviews and completed questionnaires can be distributed if so wished for. 9 List of Abbreviations AMJ: Ahmadiyyah Muslim Jamaat: Community of Ahmadiyyah Muslims CE: Common Era DITIB: Diyanet İşleri Türk İslam Birliği (Turkish), Die Türkisch-Islamische Union der Anstalt für Religion e.V. (German), Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs EU: European Union FCC: Federal Constitutional Court FOSIS: Federation of the Students Islamic