Islamic Education Needs of 11- to 16-Year-Old British Muslim Students in the UK

Abstract

Since the emergence of Muslim communities in Britain subsequent to World War II, Islam has consistently assumed a prominent position in the lives of Muslims. The imperative to address the religious, identity, educational, and moral needs of subsequent generations have remained a crucial aspect of this ongoing development. Hence, the investigation of Islamic education has become essential within the multicultural and secular context of the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, there is a lack of study in this field, which raises doubts about the adequacy of meeting the Islamic education needs (IEN) of young British Muslims. This empirical study aimed to address a research gap by investigating the perceptions of Islamic education needs among young British Muslims. The research study utilised a mixed-methods approach in order to gather comprehensive data. The initial survey encompassed a sample of 644 British Muslim students aged 11 to 16 residing in the UK. A total of 14 additional interviews were subsequently conducted in order to supplement the findings obtained from the survey. This research represents a notable advancement in comprehending and addressing the Islamic education needs of British Muslim students within the present-day setting of the United Kingdom.