The book "Migration and its Role in Settling Islam in Europe: Challenges of Coexistence and Integration, with Britain as a Model" by author Hamid Al-Hashimi is regarded as one of the scientific and practical works that discuss the issue of Muslim minorities. It serves as a reference for researchers and those interested in the struggles and experiences of Muslim minorities in the United Kingdom, as well as the means of coexistence with British society, especially in light of the growing "Islamophobia."
The author discusses the conditions of Muslims in Britain across several chapters, which are arranged in a manner that facilitates the reader's understanding of the nature of migration to Britain initially, before addressing the motivations that led to this migration. He then moves on to explore the challenges and obstacles that hinder integration with society in all its components.
The author speaks clearly in his book about the role of this migration in settling Islam in Europe, noting that non-Muslims in these countries have been influenced by members of the Muslim communities and their good morals. He also responds to the false claims of Orientalists about Islam, such as the assertion that Islam spread by the sword, clarifying with evidence that immigration and engaging with Muslims closely are among the reasons for understanding Islam in its correct form, far from the distortions of its haters.
If we wish to wander through the garden of this book, we will find that it is divided into 10 chapters, each highlighting an aspect of the suffering of Muslim minorities in Britain, while simultaneously showcasing the significant positive impact and good imprint that British Muslims have left on society.
The chapters of the book are structured as follows:
Chapter One:
Chapter One serves as an introductory explanation of the book's methodology and the study it conducts. It includes the problematization of the book, its significance, hypotheses, research techniques employed, and theoretical approaches related to the topic, alongside references to previous studies.
Chapter Two:
This chapter addresses the nature of Islam in Britain, including an introductory overview of the Kingdom and the early signs of Muslim migration to it, as well as the role of this migration in establishing the foundations for Muslims' coexistence and integration in the country and spreading Islam within it.
Chapter Three:
It addressed the social and economic situation of Muslim communities in the United Kingdom, based on indicators of their numbers and their distribution rates in different regions of the country, including the British territories.
Chapter Four:
It included a presentation of the Islamic presence in Britain through mosques, institutions, and Islamic organizations, and touched upon the importance of these institutions and their role in reinforcing Islamic identity.
Chapter Five:
It contained a presentation of the most significant non-Arab Muslim communities in Britain, such as the Turkish, Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Malaysian, Cypriot, Iranian, Somali, Caribbean, and Afghan communities.
Chapter Six:
In this chapter, the author continued to shed light on the prominent Arab communities and their characteristics, addressing most Arab communities, such as the Egyptian, Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Yemeni, and others.
Chapter Seven:
The author aimed to answer some important questions, such as the ways in which Islam spread in the West, and how social integration occurs while considering the nature of society and its fundamental components, alongside addressing the challenge of xenophobia as one of the most significant obstacles to integration.
Chapter Eight:
It discusses Britain as a society with social and cultural diversity, and the philosophy of social integration within this cultural intersection, alongside examining the reality of work and asylum procedures in British cities.
Chapter Nine:
It dedicated this chapter to discussing the problems encountered by immigrants after settling in the country, categorizing these problems into legal, social, psychological, and economic issues, and presenting the main psychological disorders among immigrants resulting from the difficult conditions they have experienced.
Chapter Ten:
In this chapter, the author discusses the positions of British political parties regarding issues of immigration, asylum, and integration, then addresses far-right parties, the motivations behind their emergence, and the acceptance of an agenda by certain segments of society, concluding with the stance of these parties on the topic of "Islamophobia."
