In this article, we highlight the historical stages of the presence of Muslims in Norway, starting from their earliest beginnings nearly half a century ago to their contemporary reality. We also examine the positives of this Islamic presence, as well as the challenges faced by Muslims in the context of a new society with different traditions and cultures.
Our goal in these lines is to preserve these historical pages concerning Muslims in Norway and to benefit those interested and informed, leading to a deeper understanding of the current situation of Muslims and their role in maintaining their religion and spreading awareness of it, in addition to their role in promoting values of coexistence and their participation in building the society in which they live.
Norway... Information and Features
Norway is the land of the Vikings, located at the far north of the European continent, occupying the western part of the polar Scandinavian peninsula.
In Norway, there are remarkable divine cosmic phenomena that attract tourists from all over to witness them, the most important of which are:
- The phenomenon of the midnight sun in summer, where the sun continues to shine past midnight.
- The phenomenon of the northern lights, with its enchanting beautiful lights in the darkness of winter.
- Its population is approximately 5 million, most of whom are followers of Christianity, particularly members of the National Lutheran Church, although this percentage has started to decrease due to the rise of atheism and non-religiosity, according to recent statistics and surveys.
- Norway is considered one of the best countries in the world in terms of prosperity, welfare, and quality of life, and it is the largest oil producer on the European continent.
- It is characterized by tolerance, freedom, democracy, and cultural diversity, and it is among the safest and quietest countries.
- One of the prominent features of Norway is the equality of rights between the church and any other religious institution; therefore, mosques and Islamic centers receive the same support that churches enjoy.
- It is one of the European countries that has no conflicts with the Islamic world throughout history, particularly during the period of the early Crusades or participation in modern colonization.
- It is also distinguished by its humanitarian positions in general, especially in supporting the Palestinian cause, compared to others at the European level.
Stations of Islam's History in Norway
- The Journey of ibn Fadlan to Norway:
It is believed that the Muslim traveler Ahmad Ibn Fadlan was the first Muslim to reach Norway in the 10th century AD as part of a mission sent by the Abbasid caliph Al-Muqtadir Billah. This mission, which included a group led by Ibn Fadlan, was sent at the request of the King of the Slavs to teach Islam to him and his people. Ibn Fadlan documented this journey in his book "The Message of Ibn Fadlan: Describing the Journey to the Lands of the Turks, Khazars, Russians, and Slavs," where he mentioned meeting a group of Vikings and described their customs and way of life. His book is considered one of the important historical documents about the Vikings, confirming that Ibn Fadlan was the first Muslim to set foot on Scandinavian soil, particularly in Norway and Sweden, consistent with what historical sources have recorded in these two countries.
- The Norwegian Poet Wergeland and His Conversion to Islam:
The well-known Norwegian poet and writer Henrik Wergeland, who passed away in 1845, is one of the most prominent cultural and literary figures in modern Norwegian history, having played a significant role in building and developing national identity. He is also regarded as one of the important symbols of national struggle.
Some reports have indicated that he sent a letter to his father before his death expressing his admiration for Islam; this has led some to believe that he converted to Islam but did not announce it for personal reasons. It is also thought that he learned about Islam through studying the available books in libraries, particularly the Royal Library, of which he was responsible.
- The arrival of Islam in modern times:
In the 1960s, when Norway needed workers, the country witnessed its first waves of Muslim migrants from Pakistan, coordinated officially between the two governments. They were followed by migrants from other Arab and Islamic countries, who came through various means, such as from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia, Somalia, Palestine, and more recently from Syria. According to some unofficial statistics, the number of Muslims in Norway today is estimated to be around 250,000, representing about 4-5% of the population. It is worth mentioning that Norway recognized Islam as an official religion since 1969.
The first mosque in the capital, Oslo, was established in 1974, which is the Islamic Cultural Center founded by Pakistani migrants. Since then, the number of mosques and Islamic centers has increased, currently reaching about one hundred mosques and prayer places in the capital alone, in addition to many other mosques and centers in various Norwegian cities.
We note that the Islamic centers in major cities are expanding from time to time due to the increasing number of Muslims, especially in the capital Oslo and other large cities such as Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, and Kristiansand, among others.
For example, some of the most prominent and largest Islamic centers in Norway, located in the capital Oslo, include:
- The Islamic Cultural Center: previously mentioned as the first mosque, which the Pakistani community later built on a plot of land in the center of Oslo in a modern and large style, and it is believed to have become the largest Islamic center in Norway in recent times.
- The Islamic Association in Norway: founded by a group from the Arab community, currently preparing for a project to build its new center, aiming to be the largest modern Islamic center in the near future.
- The Tawfiq Center: established by the Somali community, recently built on a private land plot after having been in a small rented space.
- The Mosque of Repentance: founded by the Moroccan community.
In addition to many other mosques and centers for the Arab, Pakistani, Somali, Turkish, Kurdish, Bosnian communities, and others in Oslo and other cities, it is not possible to list them all here.
These mosques and centers carry out various activities similar to those of their counterparts in Europe and the West generally, such as:
- Performing religious rituals such as the five daily prayers, Friday prayers, and the two Eid celebrations.
- Awareness through delivering sermons, lessons, lectures, and courses.
- Education by teaching the Quran and the Arabic language to children and youth.
- Social and family activities, such as marriage contracts, reconciliation between spouses, and more.
- Undertaking burial ceremonies.
- Activities to introduce Islam.
- Participating in communication and dialogue with other religions and official entities.
The activities evolve and expand according to each center and the level of awareness, specialization in knowledge, and management.
