Best Ways To Find The Muslim Community In London

What Does It Mean By The Muslim Community?

Muslims are known to be the second largest religious group, following after Christian followers, reaching up to around 1.9 billion people worldwide. The vast majority of them are residing in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ummah which is an Arabic word can refer to a Muslim nation, identity, or religious community, or it can refer to the idea of a nation of Muslim Believers, which in Arabic is ummat al-muʼminīn.

The definition of “community” evolves as new social and political formations and structures are established in human societies. A Muslim community refers to a society formed and shaped by the Muslim population.

In England, London is a city with a large Muslim population residing over it. It is not supposed to be rather tough to locate Muslim communities. This article; would assist in enlightening further about Muslim communities and the ways to locate them in London.

History Of Islam And Muslim People

Islam is a beautiful religion. The followers of the faith are known as Muslims. The history of Islam goes beyond. It is one of the most ancient religions, with about 24.1% of the world population following the Islamic faith and deeming themselves to be Muslim as of the current world.

In 632, when Muhammad (PBUH) died, was when Muslim historians began writing about him and the reign of Islam. Abu Jarir at-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Ishaq, Muhammad ibn ‘Umar al-Waqidi, and Muhammad ibn Sa’d were among the scholars who took the guide.

The original faith of Adam, Abraham, and other prophets whose messages had been misunderstood or tainted over time was tasked to be reformed by Muhammad (PBUH). Who then proceeded to invite people to this beautiful religion known as Islam.

Familiarising With Prophet Muhammad And His Journey On Outreaching Islam

Muhammad is said to have been born in Mecca in 570. According to Mohamad Jebara, a historian and scholar, prophet Muhammad’s grandfather, Abd-Al-Muttalib, gave him Muhammad.

Abd-Al-Muttalib chose a name that implies to be “the exemplary one” which had an ancient Semitic root known to be pretty uncommon in Mecca. Despite predominantly being from Arab ancestry, he also had Jewish ancestry from both sides of his family, which allowed him to trace back to Abraham, the first significant monotheistic figure in history.

Muhammad’s mother passed away when he was just six years old, leaving him an orphan. Later after that, Muhammad moved in with his grandfather, Abd-Al-Muttalib, who was responsible for supplying pilgrims with water from the Zam-Zam well. The young child was raised by Abd-Al-Muttalib with great care. He thoroughly educated his grandson in the Arabic language.

However, his grandfather had also passed away by the time he was eight years old. His uncle Abu Talib took him in and hired him on his business.

There goes a bit on Muhammad and his life before he fully committed to outreach Islam to people who were showing discouragement toward Islam. Muhammad himself was perplexed. When one day when he was said to be forty, came the angel to him to recite what they brought to him, known as the first revelation. The Holy Quran states how the meeting goes.

Cannot go without mentioning how Khadija bint Khuwaylid had a significant role in assisting the prophet Muhammad in inviting misguided people in and back in on Islam. Some scholars even go to further add how if not for his beloved wife and one of the most significant women in Islam would not have supported Muhammad the way she did we might not have come this far with the religion.

Prophet Muhammad stated,

“I never once received a revelation without feeling as though my soul had been torn away from me,”

Diversity In Muslim Population

Muslims worldwide hold that there is only one God and that Muhammad is our Prophet. However, a large fraction of Muslims share other articles of faith, such as belief in angels, heaven, hell, and fate.

Although the core tenets of Islam are commonly acknowledged, Muslims in the 39 nations and territories surveyed vary significantly in their degrees of religious practices, tolerance for different interpretations of their faith, and acceptance of different sects and movements.

To talk about the branches or sub-branches of Islam, the distinction between the two major branches of Islam, Sunni and Shia, is typically most potently understood by Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa.

At least 40% of Sunnis in the majority of the region’s surveyed countries do not consider Shias to be fellow Muslims. Only in countries like Lebanon and Iraq, where considerable numbers of Shias and Sunnis coexist. The difference between Sunni and Shia seems to be less significant outside of the Middle East and North Africa.

How To Find The Muslim Community In London?

London has a reasonably large and diverse Muslim population, making it much easier to find a Muslim community here. Some guides are given below:

Visiting Mosques And Islamic Centres –

London is a place undoubtedly filled with mosques around. Thanks to their Muslim population. Some of the well-known mosques where you can visit might be:

Mosque in Whitechapel, East London Mosque.
London Central Mosque, or Regent’s Park Mosque.
Finsbury Park Mosque.

These mosques most often hold social events, educational programs, and community get-togethers. You can go ahead and meet people by going there during community gatherings and Friday prayers known as Jumma. Not to mention the Imam from the mosque might also be enquired about the matter.

Go Through Social Media Platforms –

Popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Reddit are very helpful when it comes to finding out on a topic. The connections made on the platforms and making networks might be beneficiary. Use appropriate hashtags to find out about Muslim communities in London.

Connecting Through Educational Materials –

Islamic mosques usually offer Quran classes, Arabic lessons and Islamic studies courses for Muslims of varying age range. Joining them might connect you to people and you can enquire them about various necessary topics.

Personal Recommendations –

Recommendations from people that you know and are very close with such as your family, friends, relatives, neighbours and even colleagues might be beneficial. Chances are they know Muslim communities around London and recommend you eventually.

Statistics On The Muslim Community

About 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, are made up of about 24.1% of the population. They speak hundreds of languages and belong from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, Muslims make up the majority in 49 countries. The world’s largest Muslim population resides in Karachi.

In every nation queried in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, at least 80% of Muslims say that religion plays a significant role in their lives. Approximately 60% or more people in the Middle East and North Africa say that religion is deemed very important in their lives.

Furthermore, according to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, nearly seven out of ten Muslims in the US which is about 69% say religion is very important to them.

In the Greater London area, 3.9 Muslims were recorded in the 2021 census. Islam is currently the second most popular religion in London after Christianity, with 6.5% of the population being Muslim.