The Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years, according to official research collated for The Times.
The population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society, the research by the Office for National Statistics reveals. In the same period the number of Christians in the country fell by more than 2 million.
Experts said that the increase was attributable to immigration, a higher birthrate and conversions to Islam during the period of 2004-2008, when the data was gathered. They said that it also suggested a growing willingness among believers to describe themselves as Muslims because the western reaction to war and terrorism had strengthened their sense of identity.
Muslim leaders have welcomed the growing population of their communities as academics highlighted the implications for British society, integration and government resources.
David Coleman, Professor of Demography at Oxford University, said: “The implications are very substantial. Some of the Muslim population, by no means all of them, are the least socially and economically integrated of any in the United Kingdom ... and the one most associated with political dissatisfaction. You can't assume that just because the numbers are increasing that all will increase, but it will be one of several reasonable suppositions that might arise.”
Professor Coleman said that Muslims would naturally reap collective benefits from the increase in population. “In the growth of any population ... [its] voice is regarded as being stronger in terms of formulating policy, not least because we live in a democracy where most people in most religious groups and most racial groups have votes. That necessarily means their opinions have to be taken and attention to be paid to them.”
There are more than 42.6 million Christians in Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics, whose figures were obtained through the quarterly Labour Force Survey of around 53,000 homes. But while the biggest Christian population is among over-70s bracket, for Muslims it is the under-4s.
Ceri Peach, Professor of Social Geography at Manchester University, said that the rapid growth of the Muslim population posed challenges for society. “The groups with the strongest belief in the family and cohesion are those such as the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. They have got extremely strong family values but it goes together with the sort of honour society and other kinds of attributes which people object to,” he said. “So you are dealing with a pretty complex situation.”
Professor Peach said that the high number of Muslims under the age of 4 — 301,000 as of September last year — would benefit Britain's future labour market through taxes that would subsequently contribute to sustaining the country's ageing population. He added, though, that it would also put pressure on housing and create a growing demand for schools. “I think housing has traditionally been a difficulty because the country is simultaneously short of labour and short of housing. So if you get people to fill vacancies in your labour force you also need to find places for them to live,” he said.
Muhammad Abdul Bari, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, predicted that the number of mosques in Britain would multiply from the present 1,600 in line with the rising Islamic population. He said the greater platform that Muslims would command in the future should not be perceived as a threat to the rest of society.
“We each have our own set of beliefs. This should really be a source of celebration rather than fear as long as we all clearly understand that we must abide by the laws of this country regardless of the faith we belong to,” he said.
The Cohesion Minister, Sadiq Khan, told The Times: “We in central Government and local authorities need to continue our work to ensure that our communities are as integrated and cohesive as possible.”
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
I am against Illegal Immigration, and I am also against the idea that Immigrants should not learn the language that is most common. In my country, that is English, and I do not tolerate people who stand in front of Wal-Mart every sunday and accost people, even though they don't speak English. (Many Mexicans, and other Latino's do this, I guess it's where they like to hang out, but I have seen them whistle at girls before, when they do this, usually I yell something like "shut up moron" in Spanish, thank god for Spanish in Highschool haha)
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by aadil77
oh you make me laugh, but yes learning english is important and a basic at least, but what about the rest who can't pass that test?
Well, mashallah, because the British Muslim community is expanding with people of non-Indo-Pakistani origin, I think it's important that imams should be able to speak English in order to be understood by the congregation.
EDIT: Also, as Clover has said, it goes without saying that immigrants to any country should learn its dominant language. It's common sense.
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
I don't have to inherently support minorities rights either, do I?
I know, but I'm not yet saying we should try to raise it.
We close the door for new Muslims, including imams, expel every imam who can't pass the advanced english certificate test, try to non-agressively secularize the Muslim population, or let the process go by itself, but to do that Britain should stop all foreign affairs that may negatively affect its Muslim community.
The Muslims birth rate should settle down, as it is already doing, more Muslims women are studying, Muslims strice for higher standard which requires more money etc.
Then we bring south Americans, or Buddhists, or Poles. someone who will integrate better.
Poles are going back anyway and furthermore you do have to takecare of the minorities in a liberal democracy - you dont have to agree with them but you have to look after them - thats the responsibilty of the majority
Homosexuality/leagl prositiution will hinder birth rates and have more negatives then positive anyway - why not bring back the importnace of marriage and children and family and increase child benfites for bigger families.
You can try closing the doors on new muslims and Imams but they are needed anyway and they will come in one way or another.
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
Yes you can, by family renuions I am referring to legal immigrants bringing their families to the UK.
Yes, but let's have the Poles instead!
You cant stop that anyway especially if the family member is very close and in trouble and needs looking after.
The poles are going back anyway - they dont want to come in anymore!
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Zafran
Poles are going back anyway and furthermore you do have to takecare of the minorities in a liberal democracy - you dont have to agree with them but you have to look after them - thats the responsibilty of the majority
Homosexuality/leagl prositiution will hinder birth rates and have more negatives then positive anyway - why not bring back the importnace of marriage and children and family and increase child benfites for bigger families.
You can try closing the doors on new muslims and Imams but they are needed anyway and they will come in one way or another.
Well, from my point of view the growing number of Muslims has more negatives than positives.
Then the law enforcment concerning imams needs to be strenghtened.
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
Well, from my point of view the growing number of Muslims has more negatives than positives.
Then the law enforcment concerning imams needs to be strenghtened.
Imams arnt a threat anyway - has you agreed its a failure on your own part to breed less - as the choices go Hedonism vs sacrifice - its realy as simple as that - you need to re check the majoirty lifestyle.
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
You can, or at least set high legal limits for a family member to be legally brought to the country.
What about Brazillians?
I honestly ahve to tell you that if there was anyone that could take the muslims place i'm sure the government would have done it - in reality you can try and see if Brazilians even want to come to the UK - although its highly unlikely.
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Zafran
Imams arnt a threat anyway - has you agreed its a failure on your own part to breed less - as the choices go Hedonism vs sacrifice - its realy as simple as that - you need to re check the majoirty lifestyle.
They are, though the word I originally used was a problem.
It is a failure, I already said that, but it doesn't mean the only way to protect the european identity is through higher birth rates.
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
Also, I have no problem with heavy muslim immigration to the U.S. unless they:
1. Try to enforce Sharia Law in the U.S.
2. Try to make their religion the National Religion.
3. Use violence to drive out non-believers
Other then that, I don't mind marrying one, as long as she is close to my age, beatiful, and smart. +I gotta love her, but that really narrows it down haha
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
They are, though the word I originally used was a problem.
It is a failure, I already said that, but it doesn't mean the only way to protect the european identity is through higher birth rates.
its realy through self sacrifices eg less hednostic lifestyle - the question is are you ready to do it?
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Clover
Also, I have no problem with heavy muslim immigration to the U.S. unless they:
1. Try to enforce Sharia Law in the U.S.
2. Try to make their religion the National Religion.
3. Use violence to drive out non-believers
Other then that, I don't mind marrying one, as long as she is close to my age, beatiful, and smart. +I gotta love her, but that really narrows it down haha
maybe you should also check out the right wing evengelicals - they are a force to be reckoned with especially to secular america.
Muslims in america are also heavily integrated anyway so you dont realy have a problem - some great muslims come from america.
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Zafran
I honestly ahve to tell you that if there was anyone that could take the muslims place i'm sure the government would have done it - in reality you can try and see if Brazilians even want to come to the UK - although its highly unlikely.
There is a lot of Brazilians in the UK, more than Turks or Egyptians, but most come from former British colonis anyway.
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Clover
haha, they are never gonna get through cause people are growing brains, and plus they are a dying breed, at least, from what I've seen.
I heard they were increasing - but you live there so you'll probably know more.
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
There is a lot of Brazilians in the UK, more than Turks or Egyptians, but most come from former British colonis anyway.
Thats where all immigerrants come atleast most of them from former British colonies - to name some others - Hong kong, south africa.
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
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oh you make me laugh, but yes learning english is important and a basic at least, but what about the rest who can't pass that test?
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