Origins and Impacts of Islamic Revival in Contemporary Britain

Abstract

Islam, throughout much of its history, continues to be a faith characterized by dynamic change, boundless sweep and vibrant growth. Islam reemerged as a potent global force throughout the later part of the twentieth century, but it has been associated with reformation and revolution. Then, the idea that Islam may re-arise seemed less appealing. In more recent decades, the evidence of the strength of Islamic revival gained much attention worldwide. In the West, it was associated with a new terror and a clash of civilizations. A number of Western writings on Islamic resurgence in the modern Arab world and the West referred to the phenomenon as a matter of renewal of the old pressure of Islam upon Christendom and as a case of fundamentalism, too. Others, however, believed it was the reinterpretation of the Islamic tradition in a creative and unique way with philosophy outside the pale of Islam. On the basis of the most recent newspaper articles and the writings of famous British sociologists and historians, the type and activism of British Islam, the character of British Muslims, and the British attitudes towards Islam and Muslims are examined in this thesis. Drawing from the evident fact that over the centuries, the sway of conversion has moved in Islam’s favor while missionary effort has had no appreciable impact on its tenacity along with the reality that Islam has not succumbed to secularism despite its diminution as a geopolitical force, the question that the present research investigates is why Islam, whatever the condition, has vigorously survived. Why is it strong today in Britain which is less likely to buck up an alien faith? If we consider Islam’s resurgence in Britain to be problematic theoretically whereas in real life it advances unhampered, this would add bewilderment to the matter. The research, therefore, will explore the very reasons behind and the possible impacts of the Islamic revival in the contemporary British society. To achieve this, the concept ‘religious revival’ itself is thoroughly discussed because in the Islamic tradition it differs from the Christian one. After contextualizing Islam in Britain, the dynamics of the faith’s growth are sought. Its very strength proceeds from demographic, educational, socio- economic, psychological, international and political motives altogether. Still much of that resilience resides within its fundamental characteristics. The renewed force of Islam in Britain resulted in a number of impacts that range from anti-Muslim racism, tensions, economic inequalities, and stereotypes to Islamophobic sentiments. The latter proved to be problematic. If we assume Islam thrives under repression, it would be a factor; if we consider more the British worries about a possible Islamification of their homeland, it is an impact. The rise of Islam in the 21st century Britain and the challenges it created such as the relationship of tradition to modernity or postmodernity, text to context, Islam to democracy, divine revelation and human interpretation, and one Islam or European Islam – a kind of intellectual revolution – make the research’s theme so rich that a chapter which debates the prospects of British Islam is indispensable. Based on scholars’ predictions and the scriptures’ prophecies, this would feed our human sense of interest in understanding the future. Here again the power of Islam as the religion of the end times is restated.