Britain and her Islamic Diaspora: An Historical Précis and Neoteric Ethnography of British Muslims

his paper explores identity issues facing British-born Muslims and examines the interrelationships between British identity, culture and religious devotion amongst British men of South Asian origin. The paper is divided into three parts. Firstly an overview of key literature is given. This is followed by two qualitative surveys: one on allegiances to national sports teams among British Muslim men of South Asian origin (based on the infamous “Tebbit Test” of 1990), the other on contemporary issues facing the same group. The findings of the survey revealed religious conviction, loyalty to Muslim countries, a desire for unity amongst Muslims from different cultural and sectarian groups in Britain, disdain and mistrust of those responsible for the portrayal of Muslim minorities living in Britain including the media and a want for the abandonment of South Asian cultural practices which conflict with Islamic teachings.