Islam in Scotland
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Islam in Scotland (Scots: Eeslam in Alba ) includes all aspects of the Islamic faith in Scotland. The first Muslim known to have been in Scotland was a medical student who studied at the University of Edinburgh from 1858 to 1859. The production of goods and Glasgow's busy port meant that many lascars were employed there. Most Muslims in Scotland are members of families that immigrated in the later decades of the 20th century. At the 2011 census, Muslims comprised 1.4 per cent of Scotland's population (76,737).[citation needed]
History
The first named Muslim known in Scotland was Wazir Beg from Bombay (now "Mumbai"). He is recorded as being a medical student who studied at the University of Edinburgh in 1858 and 1859.[1] Manufacturing and Glasgow's busy seaport meant that many lascars were employed there. Dundee was at the peak of importing jute, and sailors from Bengal were also seen at its port. Records from the Glasgow Sailors' Home show that nearly a third (5,500) of the boarders in 1903 were Muslim lascars.[citation needed]
However, the immigration of Muslims to Scotland is a relatively recent event. The majority of Scottish Muslims are members of families who immigrated in the late 20th century. Scotland's Muslims in 2001 represented just 0.9% of the population (42,557),[2] with 30,000 in Glasgow.[3] By 2011, the Muslim population had increased to 76,737, accounting for 1.4% of Scotland's population.[4] Muslims are the third largest non-Christian group after atheists and agnostics. Many Scottish Muslims are of South Asian descent, primarily originating in Pakistan.[citation needed]
Mosques
Three important mosques in Scotland are Edinburgh Central Mosque, which took more than six years to complete at a cost of £3.5m[5] and has a main hall that can hold over one thousand worshippers,[6] Glasgow Central Mosque, Aberdeen Mosque and Dundee Central Mosque are also important mosques.
Notable Scottish Muslims
- Ali Abassi, Gaelic television presenter.
- Bashir Ahmad - first Asian Member of the Scottish Parliament (2007–09)
- Abdal-Qadir As-Sufi (Ian Dallas)
- Bashir Mann, former Labour councillor
- Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana (Molly Campbell)
- Mohammad Sarwar MP - First Muslim MP at Westminster from 1997 to 2010. His son Anas Sarwar has succeeded his seat.
- Mona Siddiqui - is a British Muslim academic, currently is a University of Edinburgh's Professor of Islam and Interreligious studies,[7] as well a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4, The Times, Scotsman, The Guardian, The Herald
- Viscount Reidhaven, eldest son of the Earl of Seafield.
- Osama Saeed, chief executive of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation
- Mushtaq Ahmad, lord lieutenant of Lanarkshire.
See also
- Islam in England
- Islam in Northern Ireland
- Islam in Wales
- Islam by country
- Muslim Council of Scotland
- The Muslim Weekly
- Scottish Muslims
References
- ↑ http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/antisectarian/whatIsSectarianism/aboutsectarianism/Islam/02100506historyofmuslimsinscotland.asp
- ↑ http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00398-02.asp
- ↑ Young Muslims UK, accessed 4 August 2010
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External links
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- The Muslim Council of Scotland
- The Scottish-Islamic Foundation
- Census 2001: Key Statistics of Scotland (PDF, religion KS027)
- What is sectarianism?
- Reaching out in Edinburgh
- Last Muslim School in Scotland Faces Closure Deadline at the Wayback Machine (archived September 26, 2007), Islam Online
- "Islam misunderstood", BBC
- Scottish Left Review article on Islam in Scotland
