Muslims in Eire

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The Muslim community in Eire comprises of a wide range of nationalities in differening proportions and it is confronting a critical phase of intrinsic and extrinsic development. When Muslims first arrived in Eire in the early 1950s they were students and their plan for departure was made prior to their arrival. Nonetheless, upon arrival the Muslim community commenced a process of establishment and settlement among the Irish communities that involved integration, but not assimilation, at such remarkable level that presented Muslims in today’s form. Irish Muslims are no longer strangers, but citizens.

The process of integration, while preserving the Muslim identity, meant feeling at home in the Irish society. Islam, in a nutshell, means to submit your will to the will of your Creator, among whose attributes are The Most Merciful and The Most Gracious. Muslims call their Creator, as one of His Fair Names stated in the Islamic literature, The Peace. The concept of peace is firmly rooted in the Muslims’ life. Moreover, the fact that the Muslim greeting is “peace be upon you” reiterates the hymns peace in all aspects of the Muslim life. Islam is categorically described as a way of life. Hence Muslims’ approval of a matter and disapproval of another should be founded on a textual foundation. Consequently when Muslims were exposed to the issue of integration in Eire a thirst arose for a textual support.

Due to the fact that the Islamic Scriptures elaborates on issues of social nature and that the Muslim history is teeming with events of social issues, such thirst was quenched easily.

Allah said: “Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.” (60:8 YUSUF ALI Trans.)

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all)”(49:13 YUSUFALI Trans.)

This verse forms one of the major corner stones of the Muslim integration. It vividly crystallizes the fact that people come from one and the same source. Nevertheless, they have been made into tribes and nations. “That you may know each other” does not mean the mere knowledge of names and origins, but rather the positive integration that turns the individuals of one society into one congregation crumbling all racial phonotypical traits in order to create an atmosphere, where through diversity of origins enrichment, that gives existence to a new society with an inclusive capacity that comprehends all individuals and groups with a unique understanding, can be attained. On the other hand relations among people are frozen by lack of trust, seclusion and isolation. Hence coexistence should be founded on integration and bridging gaps and trusting others. When these elements become parts of our culture observed at all levels peace will prevail.

To a large extent it is difficult to get accurate statistics on Muslim population in Eire. However, according to the 1991 census, the number of Muslims was 3,873. Apparently the number of Muslim population was largely underestimated. A substantial increase occurred to the Muslim population in 2002. According to the 2002 census Muslim population scored 19,147. The present population is estimated to be 25,000. The Muslim community in Eire is employed in a wide range of professions e.g. medical doctors estimated to be 2000, business men mainly in ethnic restaurants, meat industry and Halal food. In Educational places there is a big number of Muslim students especially in the Royal College of Surgery. There is still a number of Muslim asylum seekers coming from Nigeria, Kenai, Libya, Iraq and Algeria. In 1992 arrived the first group of Muslim program refugees from Bosnia. This group was followed by a second group coming from Somalia. They were forced to flee their countries because of political situations. It is obvious that the Irish Muslim community is in a state of change, transition and progress. In recent years numbers have been increasing all the time as people arrive and new members are being accepted in the Muslim community.

The fastest growing sector in the Islamic community is represented by young and adult children socializing in a home environment dominated by parents’ culture reinforced institutions set up by the immigrant community. In the meantime they are educated in a European system of education. Due to the existence of Muslim national schools, there is no contradiction. Upon joining the second level of education, Muslim students encounter a number of issues e.g. food, prayer and hijab. These issues are usually sorted out easily. When the spectrum of integration enlarged to the extent that it almost touched every aspect of Muslims’ life, there was a dire need for a European Muslim association formed of Muslim scholars aware of the European reality. To meet this need the European Council for Fatwa and Research has been founded consisting of a number of Muslim scholars who work to deliver Fatwa and guidance in some of the prominent Islamic centre throughout Europe along with a number of scholars who live in the Islamic world. This council has become an Islamic authority. Among its objectives, the Council facilitates Muslims’ life in Europe encouraging positive integration at al levels in the light of the Islamic Holy Scripture. By and large the Muslim existence in Eire is facilitated by the fact that there are huge amount of historical and traditional commonalities between the Muslim immigrants and the Irish natives. In addition to that the fact that the Irish natives cordially welcome makes it even better.

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