Short answer
Converts in Britain choose Islam because they find it true, and a whole way of life. In one British survey, 96 per cent of converts said books helped them, and 86 per cent said Muslim friends did. Well-known British converts include a former head boy of Eton and the singer Cat Stevens. In the same survey, 62 per cent of converts were women. A Cambridge study of nearly 50 women converts found many highly educated and successful at work. They came in spite of the media's picture of Islam and women. Two thirds of those surveyed met a hard reaction from their families at first, and went ahead anyway. The Qur'an asks to be read and weighed, not taken on blind faith, and it says there is no compulsion in religion.
Full explanation
Who converts, and how
A 2010 report estimated that up to 100,000 people in Britain had become Muslim, with about 5,200 more each year. Of the converts who answered its survey, 62 per cent were women. The average age at conversion was 27.5. Books had helped almost all of them, and most had been helped by Muslim friends. The survey covered converts who practise Islam. For at least 45 per cent of them, conversion had no link to marriage.
Estimates that between 90,000 and 100,000 people in Britain had become Muslim by 2010, with about 5,200 conversions a year, working from a survey of London mosques. Of the 122 converts who answered its own survey, 62 per cent were women and the average age at conversion was 27.5. Books had helped 96 per cent and Muslim friends 86 per cent on their way to Islam. For at least 45 per cent there was no link between conversion and marriage. Two thirds met a negative reaction from their families at first. Of those, 43 per cent said their families later became positive and 28 per cent said they stayed negative. In its follow-up survey of 32 converts, nine in ten of the women had changed the way they dressed. Its survey covered practising converts only.
- 100,000people in Britain had become Muslim by 2010, at the highest estimate
- 5,200new converts a year
- 27.5the average age at conversion
The women who convert
A 2013 Cambridge study heard from nearly 50 British women who became Muslim, of every age and background. Many were highly educated and successful in their careers. They came to Islam in spite of the media's picture of Islam and women. They did not describe conversion as turning their back on their upbringing, but as growing into something wider. In a follow-up to the 2010 survey, nine in ten of the women who answered had changed the way they dressed.
A University of Cambridge study, made with the New Muslims Project, of nearly 50 British women of many ages and backgrounds who became Muslim. It notes that many are highly educated and professionally successful, and that they convert despite the media's picture of Islam and women. The women described conversion as continuity and a widening sense of self, not a rejection of their upbringing. Family reactions ranged from exclusion and denial to full acceptance. Many adapted Western dress to Islamic ideas of modesty, and the study says that wearing the hijab by choice puts the convert women in control.
Estimates that between 90,000 and 100,000 people in Britain had become Muslim by 2010, with about 5,200 conversions a year, working from a survey of London mosques. Of the 122 converts who answered its own survey, 62 per cent were women and the average age at conversion was 27.5. Books had helped 96 per cent and Muslim friends 86 per cent on their way to Islam. For at least 45 per cent there was no link between conversion and marriage. Two thirds met a negative reaction from their families at first. Of those, 43 per cent said their families later became positive and 28 per cent said they stayed negative. In its follow-up survey of 32 converts, nine in ten of the women had changed the way they dressed. Its survey covered practising converts only.
Converts in British public life
A 2002 report in The Times named some of the best-known British converts. Matthew Wilkinson, a former head boy of Eton, became Muslim in 1993 and took the name Tariq. Jonathan Birt also became Muslim. He is the son of Lord Birt, a former Director-General (head) of the BBC. Joe Ahmed-Dobson, son of the former Labour minister Frank Dobson, said Islam transformed his spiritual life. The singer Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam. Each came from the heart of the British establishment or its culture. Each chose Islam against the grain of the world he came from.
A report on well-off young Britons becoming Muslim. It names Matthew Wilkinson, a former head boy of Eton, who became Muslim and took the name Tariq in 1993; Jonathan Birt, son of Lord Birt of the BBC; Joe Ahmed-Dobson, son of the former Labour minister Frank Dobson, who said Islam transformed his spiritual life; and the singer Cat Stevens, who became Yusuf Islam. It reports anecdotal evidence of a rise in conversions after 11 September 2001.
The argument from conversion
Islam grew by 347 million people from 2010 to 2020, more than all other religions combined. Most of that growth is by birth. So the number of Muslims alone proves nothing, just as the number of Christians proves nothing about Christianity. The argument from conversion is different. Every year some people raised with every reason to think badly of Islam read its sources, weigh them and accept them. In the West, a person who leaves a religion usually moves with the culture around him. A person who becomes Muslim moves against it, and often against his own family. Few people change their whole lives without careful thought. Two thirds of the converts in the 2010 survey met a negative reaction from their families at first, and they went ahead anyway. This does not prove Islam true by itself. It shows that Islam's case persuades careful people who had every reason to reject it, so that case is worth reading.
Finds that the number of Muslims grew by 347 million from 2010 to 2020, to about 2 billion, more than all other religions combined, and that Muslims rose to 25.6 per cent of the world's population. Very little of this growth came from people becoming Muslim or leaving Islam as adults; most came from natural increase in a young population. Over the same years Hindus grew by 126 million, Christians by 122 million and Jews by nearly 1 million, while Buddhists fell by 19 million.
Estimates that between 90,000 and 100,000 people in Britain had become Muslim by 2010, with about 5,200 conversions a year, working from a survey of London mosques. Of the 122 converts who answered its own survey, 62 per cent were women and the average age at conversion was 27.5. Books had helped 96 per cent and Muslim friends 86 per cent on their way to Islam. For at least 45 per cent there was no link between conversion and marriage. Two thirds met a negative reaction from their families at first. Of those, 43 per cent said their families later became positive and 28 per cent said they stayed negative. In its follow-up survey of 32 converts, nine in ten of the women had changed the way they dressed. Its survey covered practising converts only.
A faith that asks to be examined
The Qur'an does not ask for blind belief. It tells the Prophet (ﷺ) to say that he invites to God (﷾) on evidence as clear as sight. It praises those who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth. It also forbids forcing anyone into the faith, because the truth stands out clear from error. A convert who reads first and decides later is doing what the Qur'an asks.
“Say thou: "This is my way: I do invite unto Allah,- on evidence clear as the seeing with one's eyes,- I and whoever follows me. Glory to Allah! and never will I join gods with Allah!"”
“Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,- Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.”
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”
What women find in the Qur'an
The Qur'an promises the same forgiveness and the same great reward to believing men and believing women. It names each good quality for both. Women in the Cambridge study described Islam as widening their sense of self, not narrowing it. Many adapted Western clothes to Islamic modesty. The study found that wearing the headscarf by choice put these women in control.
“For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.”
A University of Cambridge study, made with the New Muslims Project, of nearly 50 British women of many ages and backgrounds who became Muslim. It notes that many are highly educated and professionally successful, and that they convert despite the media's picture of Islam and women. The women described conversion as continuity and a widening sense of self, not a rejection of their upbringing. Family reactions ranged from exclusion and denial to full acceptance. Many adapted Western dress to Islamic ideas of modesty, and the study says that wearing the hijab by choice puts the convert women in control.
A faith for every nation
Converts come from every country, class and race, and nothing in Islam asks them to change their nation. In the Bible, Peter, a disciple of Jesus, says that God (﷾) is no respecter of persons (He shows no favourites). He says that in every nation the one who fears God (﷾) and does right is accepted. The Qur'an says the same. People are made into nations and tribes to know one another, and the most honoured before God (﷾) is the most righteous. The reward is promised to those who believe and do good.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
“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 honoured 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 things).”
“But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before," for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever).”
Perspectives
What the research shows
Studies of British converts find people who came through reading and friendship. In one survey most were women, and a Cambridge study found many highly educated.
Of the converts in a 2010 British survey, 62 per cent were women. For at least 45 per cent, conversion had no link to marriage.
Books helped 96 per cent of those surveyed, and Muslim friends 86 per cent.
A 2002 Times report named converts from the heart of British public life. Among them were a former head boy of Eton and the singer Cat Stevens.
A Cambridge study found many women converts highly educated and professionally successful.
The Islamic perspective
People accept Islam because it is true, and its truth can be checked. The Prophet (ﷺ) called people on clear evidence, and the Qur'an forbids forcing anyone. Those who weigh it freely and accept it are the evidence worth explaining.
The Qur'an calls people to faith on clear evidence and to reflection, not blind belief.
The Qur'an says there is no compulsion in religion.
The Qur'an promises believing women the same forgiveness and reward as believing men.
The Qur'an honours people by righteousness, not by nation or race, as Peter says of God (﷾) in Acts 10:34-35.
Conversion, unlike growth by birth, is a considered choice made against social pressure. It is made every year by people of every background.