Towards Building a British Islam New Muslims' Perspectives

As a result of the growing number of 'new Muslims' in most Western European countries, including Britain, there is an increasing interest in the role of converts to Islam in Western Europe. This interest is focused primarily on the potential role these converts can play in their respective societies. Despite the importance of the subject, no comprehensive study has been carried out, especially in Britain. Haifaa Jawad seeks to fill this gap and investigate the intellectual, spiritual and cultural contributions of some of the prominent members of the new Muslim community, including Tim Winter, Neal Robinson, Yusf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), Colin Turner, Martin Lings, Gai Eaton, Sarah Joseph and Yassin Dutton. These figures have played prominent roles in British society in particular, and have become active in influencing Islamic discourse in Britain. The book also assesses their efforts to bridge the gap between the Muslim community and wider British society, and by extension Euro-Muslim understanding. In working together both with the wider society and the Muslim community they are working to shape 'British Islam'.

Haifaa A. Jawad is Senior Lecturer in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studios in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, UK.