Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Bolivia

Bolivia,  a landlocked country located in western-central South America has a population of 11,428,245 (2019 estimates) of which a very small fraction is Muslims - around two thousand, representing 0.017 % out of the total population to be exact. And perhaps for this very reason, not much information is available about the life of Muslims in the country.

As per Wikipedia, Imam Mahmud Amer Abusharar, who arrived from Palestine in 1974 founded The Bolivian Islamic Center (Spanish: Centro Islámico Boliviano, CIB) in August 1986. In 1992 a commission for the construction of the first mosque in Bolivia was approved, and it was completed in September 1994 in the city of Santa Cruz. 

In 2004 the first official Sunni mosque, the Yebel An Nur Mosque, was founded in 2004 in La Paz. Prior to that Islam was rather unheard of. The Yebel An Nur Mosque remains self-funded with close ties to the Sunni Bolivian Islamic Center of Santa Cruz while the As-Salam Mosque receives both Sunni and Shia followers, connections, and funding.

The majority of the people attending the Friday ceremony are young men and women. This is because most of the adult men have work responsibilities. According to the National Statistical Institute of Bolivia, the majority of Bolivian citizens self-identify as Catholic. ‘Bosses don’t really keep in mind Muslim duties as they do in the Middle East,’ says imam Ayman Altaramsi, the religious leader of the mosque in La Paz. ‘Bolivian society is not structured around Islam.’

Finding Halal food is one of the biggest problem for the Muslims. Naturally for such a small community, arrangements for Halal meat cannot be made. However, the community solved the problem on its own. ‘Five years ago we started producing our own halal meat,’ Altaramsi says proudly. During the month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, ‘about one hundred people come to our Mosque to eat this meat and share their spiritual experiences,’ he says.

There are many converts in Bolivia. Morah Bacinello converted eight years ago after growing up Catholic because Christianity didn’t bring her satisfaction. ‘I came to this mosque to try something else,’ she explains. ‘They told me about eternal life, and this especially caught my interest because I lost a son,’ she says. Bacinello adopted her Arabic name and, two years later, her children also converted to Islam. Now Allah is guiding their lives.

Like many Muslim women, Bacinello wears a hijab, but only two years ago she started to use it in public. ‘I never had any experiences with people approaching me in a negative way,’ she says. ‘In general, people in Latin America are more spiritual than usual, and perhaps more tolerant in terms of religion.’

Despite peaceful presence of Bolivian Muslims, I was amazed to find a post by Fox News saying that "Bolivia Becoming a Hotbed of Islamic Extremism." Interesting isn't it? How can a mere 2000 Muslims threaten a country of 11 million and sow seeds of extremism merely because some belong to Palestine and Iran.

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslims Countries: Luxembourg

Luxembourg though a secular European country and Muslims form a sizable minority of the total population dominated by orthodox and Protestant Christians. Since 2015, Islam is one of the officially recognized religions in the country. The presence of Muslims in Luxembourg is not very old and in mid 70s there were just a few hundred Muslims in the country. However since then, the size of Muslim community has swelled at a rapid rate and as per many estimates, there are 10,000 to 20,000 Muslims in the country.     

The Muslim population increase is mainly attributed to the asylum seekers from former Yugoslavia, mostly Bosniaks. The Muslim population also witnessed as a surge as workers migrated after the labour agreement between Luxembourg and Yugoslavia. Presently, the Muslims in Luxembourg are mainly Bosniaks, Moroccans, Albanians, Turks, Tunisians, Algerians, and Iranians. Since it is illegal for the government to collect statistics on religious beliefs and practices, it is unclear how many are citizens of the Grand-Duchy. A study (European Values ​​Study) reports a strong progression of the Muslim religion, from 0.7 to 2% of the population between 1999 and 2008. It is now presented as the second religion of the country.

Six mosques currently exist in the country. And a lot of Muslims get together there for the Friday prayers. These mosques, which in fact are Muslim cultural centres and do not resemble typical mosques, are also the venue for special Ramadan prayers  and Eid congregations beside holding of religious festivals.

Shop were one can find Halal Foods [Photo]

In a survey carried  out by Islamophobia Observatory, a non-profit founded in 2016 to promote intercultural dialogue in Luxembourg, reveal that whilst Muslim residents of Luxembourg broadly feel well-integrated in Luxembourg, 60% of respondents to an inquiry maintain that Islamophobia exists in Luxembourg. 

Lahcen Abarri, the head of the research and psychological unit, explained that Islamophobia is most prevalent in the workplace, in the media, and in public spaces. Nevertheless, Islamophobia has also been observed in the realm of politics. The Observatory has noted that some MPs have attempted to stigmatise the presence of Islam in Luxembourg with targeted parliamentary questions concerning Muslims. [3]

Please watch below a video of pilgrims from Luxembourg proceeding on Umra to Saudi Arabia in 2017 (The commentary in not in English):

I could not find more information on the way of life of Muslims in Luxembourg. May it is for the reason that Muslims “remain a little-studied and little-known community today,” notes the researcher. If readers can add anything, they are most welcome to do so in our comment box.

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Mexico

Muslims are a tiny fraction of the 129 million Catholic dominated Mexico, the fifth largest country of the Americas. Although as per the 2010 census, the Muslims are only 2,500 of the total population,  the local Muslim community boasts of a 12,000 strong community.

The number of Muslims in Mexico has been growing exponentially over the last decade as more Mexicans embrace the religion and its message of peace and coexistence. At least 5,500 native Mexicans have converted to Islam since 1989 in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. It is cause for tremendous excitement at a time when Islamophobia is on the rise and Muslims are exposed to falsely associated with terror groups. Muslim immigrants from Lebanon, Syria and even Spanish Sufi Muslims has contributed to spreading the message of Islam throughout Mexico, according to The Muslim Vibe.

The Centro Cultural Islámico de México (CCIM), a Sunni organization headed by Omar Weston, a British born Mexican convert to Islam, has been active in several big cities in northern and central Mexico. In the state of Morelos, the CCIM built a prayer hall and centre for recreation, learning and conferences, called Dar as Salaam, which also operates Hotel Oasis, a hotel that offers halal holidays for Muslim travelers and accommodation for non-Muslims sympathetic to Islam.

Muslims fell the brunt of terrorist attacks around the world portraying Muslims behind. But they brave out such taunts  and continue their peaceful reproach and are thus well mixed within the overall Mexican culture. However, students and others dependent on remittances from home are subjected to many questions as to what "purpose" money is being received.

One of the most unique Muslim urban centers was established in a village of southern Chiapas, the heartland of the indigenous Mayan people who identify as Roman Catholic. A growing number of indigenous Mexicans have converted to Islam in this village located around San Cristobal de las Casas, which identify as indigenous Tzotzil community. Muslims there have been blending their indigenous ways of life with the customs required by Islam, including the traditional Mayan scarf for women and prayer caps or kufis for men. ‘’I want to speak my language, I want to put on the indigenous dress, but I also want to believe in Allah’’ a Muslim member told the The Muslim Vibe. [4]

Muslims do celebrate their religious festivals specially the fasting during month of Ramadan and the Eids, but Eid ul Fitr and Eid al Adha.

Watch a video of the Mexican Muslims celebrating Eid:

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Islam in Mexico (Video)

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given above or YouTube. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Ireland

Islam in the Republic of Ireland is a rather new religion for the first presence of Muslims occurred in the 1950s when students from different countries came to Ireland for higher studies, especially to study medicine at the famous Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. And it was they who founded the Dublin Islamic Society (later called the Islamic Foundation of Ireland) in 1959. Since then from a few to over 64,000 practicing Muslims, today Islam is the third largest religion after the Catholics and Followers of the Church.

The Census 2011, showed 49,200 people who declared themselves Muslim. But just five years later in 2016, this number jumped to 63,400 - a rise of 29% in the number of people registering themselves as a Muslim from that in 2011.

Sunnis are in the majority in Ireland and the largest membership is from Pakistan, Algeria and Libya. The Sunni community have a number of mosques and centres around Ireland (details at end of section).There are over 2,000 Shi'a followers and the majority come from Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq. The majority of the Shi'a community live in Dublin where there is a centre, while others live in major urban centres such as Cork and Galway.

There are over 50 mosques that are spread over the country. The largest mosque is in Dublin, the Clonskeagh mosque or the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, which about 5,000 people attend. Aside from the five qualified imams here, there are a number of “congregational leaders” who know parts of the Qur’an by heart who can lead prayer.

Life of Muslims is as normal or otherwise as any other European country. The Hijab remains an issue for the Muslim women as the mainly Christian population around is not very comfortable about it. Muslim teenagers complain of isolated incidents of Hijab being pulled off in public. Likewise there are racist occurring with slurs being passed on to Muslims, specially women, but Muslims are becoming used to it. However, in an interview with Muslim girls, one of the girls remarked: "We definitely feel a lot more comfortable than in Britain or France." When asked about recent events in the UK, France and elsewhere that might give a negative impression of Islam, one of the Muslim student said that there are people who try to “skew” the religion into something that fits their own agendas.

The Islamic Cultural Centre, Dublin, Ireland [Photo Credit:  Wikimedia Commons / Source / Author ]

As to halal food, one find food outlets offering halal meat and meat products in most larger towns and by the dozen in Dublin. Look for signs in Arabic, especially mentioning "halal" or describing the food as "ethnic". A huge number of Pakistani shops stock a good selection of food from mainly the UK and Turkey that will have a halal seal. A smaller number will also have a butcher's counter selling fresh halal meat.

The acceptance of the Muslim as an individual has much to do with the fact that half of the Irish health system would collapse if it were not for Muslim doctors. Enter any Irish hospital and chances are good that you will be treated by a Muslim doctor, often from Pakistan. However, ethnicity and religion are somehow intermingled here. Expect to hear things like "Oh, he is a Muslim ... but a good doctor nonetheless!" on occasion. 

Muslims enjoy celebrating their festivals in colours and happiness. Watch herein under a video of Muslims celebrating the festival of Eid and how they feel about being in the country:

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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An Amazing Account of Revert Experience

I have been sharing revert experience and each account was different and informative for me. But today I am sharing a revert account which for me was both different from all previous accounts but very soul inspiring. I came across this account while I was searching for material for a series of posts I write about Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries. And this account I came across while searching for input on Nicaragua.

This account of multiple reversions was shared in the Islamic Bulletin and I am sharing it as it appeared in its source:

The Nicaraguan government bans all missionary groups from Pakistan, India and other Arab or Islamic countries. After receiving requests for help, a group of brothers from the San Francisco area made travel arrangements to Nicaragua to reintroduce Islam to these forgotten brothers and sisters. 

While in Managua, the capitol city of Nicaragua, the group was told about a Palestinian elder, named Mukhtar, who had been in a coma for three weeks and near death. Before going into the coma, this man had asked to be among Muslims as he died. He was located in the town of Chinandega, which is approximately 150 Km from Managua. So the group from San Francisco decided to go to the dying Muslim and fulfill his wish to be among the Muslims when he died.

As the group traveled to Chinandega, a local brother explained some background of the family. While the Palestinian Muslim had married Nicaraguan woman, she continued to be strong catholic. And obviously, due to the mother's influence their two sons and a daughter were all raised Catholic. It also transpired that the dying man's wife wanted her husband's burial burial as a Christian.

When they all reached the Palestinian Muslim's house, upon entering his home, they were surrounded by a plethora of Christian statues and large crucifixes everywhere. They felt as if they had been transported into a church. Ignoring these, they approached the dying elder brother. With his sons and daughter present they started reciting "Surah Ya seen" and made a collective dua (supplication to Allah) for the old gentleman.

They could see in the eyes of the sons and daughter the anguish and love for their father. At that moment one is filled with a sense of helplessness.

"Then why do ye not (intervene when the soul of the dying man) reaches the throat...and ye the while (sit) looking on... But we are nearer to Him than ye, and ye see not." (Qur'an 56:83-85)

The group comforted the grown children with mention of the greatness of Allah and the principles of Islam, some points about the Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him), and tried to give them a little of what they had missed of an Islamic upbringing. As they were listening, the oldest brother removed the cross from his neck and at once accepted Islam and said the Shahada (declaration of faith), followed by his brother, and together they invited their sister to do the same, which she did. The Mother, listening to this conversation, became upset by what was happening and left the house.

The brothers from San Francisco then proceeded to their drivers house for a late lunch and Dhuhr Salah (the midday noon prayer) along with the children of the dying man. It was the first salah for the children and they were instructed to make dua for their poor dying father. As the group prayed for the dying man with their hands raised to Allah, the phone rang...the father had passed away...in peaceful repose. How thankful the brothers from San Francisco were that they had delayed Dhuhr prayer and lunch for the sake of visiting the man who only had a short time left in this life.

They all then returned to the elders home and started the process of an Islamic burial. The eldest brother, the first of the family to accept Islam, was able to perform a final service for his beloved father by Islamically washing and preparing him for the final internment with the help of the San Francisco brothers. The wife of the deceased man later admitted that when she had left the house earlier, she had gone to her local priest and explained to him about this strange group of men who had arrived from nowhere and converted all her family and was in the process of burying her husband of many years the Islamic way. She explained to the priest what the brothers had been saying about Jesus and Islam. This priest agreed with the points the brothers had made and suggested that she submit to her husband's wishes. During the burial, the son's of Mukhtar were able to place him lovingly into his grave facing the Qiblah (Makkah) with their own hands and thus fulfilled their father's dying wish...to be among Muslims as he died. The greatness of Allah allowed him to be buried as a Muslim, by Muslims, and with those Muslims being his own blood family.

After the burial, the brothers from San Francisco stayed awhile and provided further Islamic information for the family. The family cleared their house of idols and crosses and made their big house into the 'Mosque of Chinandega'. It was then that the mother, who was deeply touched by her husband's funeral also accepted Islam before the brothers departed! 

This was really amazing and very motivating to read this first account. But that was not all. The group from USA had more miraculous stories to tell as they continued their journey to neighbouring El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala!!

One of the brothers of the San Francisco group visiting Central America was asked by his secretary to deliver some items to her mother, Mrs. Molina, then living in the little town of Granada, close to Managua. It seems that the brother's secretary, a non-Muslim, had been criticized by mother and other members of her family for her Islamic leanings due to working for our friend. She did not eat pork and liked to read the Qur'an "because it made her feel good". The mother had been accusing the good brother of 'brainwashing' her daughter.

Well, the brother delivered the parcel to Mrs. Molina as promised. By that time it was time for the Maghreb prayer and he asked her permission to pray there, and she allowed him so. After praying, our friend started answering Mrs. Molina's questions about Islam and before he knew it...she asked to become Muslim, made Shahada, and even asked him to speak to her neighbors and friends about Islam! A very enthusiastic convert! Well, needless to say...the brothers secretary no longer heard about 'brainwashing' from her mother, and was even a little surprised by this turn of events. The problem though...now her mother is criticizing her again...wanting to know what is taking her daughter and son-in-law too long in accepting Islam too!

The presence of the group in Nicaragua reinvigorated the spirit of Islam in the Islamic community of Managua and a  masjid which was virtually empty during salah times when the group first arrived, started attracting Muslims to it. The hearts of the Muslims of Managua were again united in brotherhood. As a result of their visit, many of the Muslim residents of Managua again started attending Fair and Isha prayer in congregation. The San Francisco brothers also provided a yearly prayer schedule which the Managuans did not have previously, having to rely on a schedule they had received during Ramadan which they had not adjusted for the course of the year.

These descendants of the early immigrants are hungry for information about Islam. Almost 60 people accepted Islam as a consequence of the group from San Francisco. Spanish Qur'an and literature are continually in demand. It's the responsibility of all of us to remember these Muslims far away. Please help if you assist with Islamic literature in Spanish language to share with Muslims of Nicaragua.

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the source as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the reference and its author.  

To read personal accounts of many a celebrity who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | Source: Islamic Bulletin 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Nicaragua

Republic of Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American isthmus with a population of 6,545,502 (2019). Of this a very marginal number of 1,200 to 1,500 are Muslims (according to 2007 statistics released by the U.S. Department of State). This small number of Muslims is mostly Sunnis who are resident aliens or naturalized citizens from Palestine, Libya, and Iran or natural-born Nicaraguan citizens.

Muslims immigration started in the 19th century, majority of whom were the Palestinian Arabs. Another influx of Palestinians entered Nicaragua with the decline of the Ottoman Empire after Word War I. Thereafter in 1960s and 1990s. Many of these were immigrants returning to Nicaragua who had since become more aware of their Muslim heritage from exposure in North America or Palestine. These immigrants also possessed a stronger Islamic identity than previous groups, enabling an Islamic reawakening by the community.

Masjid in Managua, Nicaragua [Photo]

In 1999, the first masjid (mosque) was constructed in the country on a parcel of land measuring three thousand meters in the San Juan district (Ciudad Jardin) with a capacity for nearly one thousand people.

The Islamic Cultural Center in Managua serves as the primary center for Muslims in the capital city. For Friday prayers, Muslims from Granada, Masaya, Leon, and Chinandega also travel to the Managua center. Muslims living in Granada, Masaya, and Leon have established smaller prayer centers in the homes of prominent local Muslims.

In addition to the Sunni Muslims, a small number of Shi'ite Muslim is also present in the country who mostly came after the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Praying inside the Managua Mosque  [Photo]

How is life of Muslims in Nicaragua? Well I tried to find answer from the available information on the net but did not find any useful data. However, in one account, I came across a mention of a death of a Palestinian Muslim married to a Catholic wife. The account states that the man lived in house adorned with statues as if one is standing in church. They also found out that his wife and three children never embraced Islam. However a miracle happened there at the funeral. 

A group of Muslims had gone their for his last rituals. The group comforted the grown up children with mention of the greatness of Allah and the principles of Islam, some points about the Prophet Issa (Jesus, peace be upon him), and tried to give them a little of what they had missed of an Islamic upbringing. As they were listening, the oldest brother removed the cross from his neck and at once accepted Islam and said the Shahada (declaration of faith), followed by his brother, and together they invited their sister to do the same, which she did. The Mother, listening to this conversation, became upset by what was happening and left the house. Later they all offered the noon prayers with the newly reverted children of the deceased.

After the burial, the brothers from San Francisco stayed awhile and provided further Islamic information for the family. The family cleared their house of idols and crosses and made their big house into the 'Mosque of Chinandega'. It was then that the mother, who was deeply touched by her husband's funeral also accepted Islam before the brothers departed!  

Please read on the details at reference [3] for yet another account of reversion

Those reading it and if Muslims from Nicaragua, are requested to add more about life of Muslims in Nicaragua in our comment box.

Author's Note: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Bulgaria

Islam came to Bulgaria in the 9th century and has since grown into the second largest minority in the country, the second largest religion as well. Most of the Bulgarian Muslims practice Sunni branch of Islam, one of the two main strains of religious practice in Islam, the other being Shia Islam. The Muslims mostly constitute of Turks, Bulgarians and also Gypsy ethnicity. The Bulgarian Muslims are generally the descendants of the local Slavs who converted to Islam during Ottoman rule. During this period there were 3256 mosques in Bulgaria. For Bulgarian Slavic Muslims the term Pomaks is used inhabiting Bulgaria besides those in northeastern Greece and mainly northwestern Turkey.

For centuries Christians, Muslims, and Jews have lived together in Bulgaria. Islam had thrived in Bulgaria till the region fell under the Soviet influence and all religions, Muslims and Christians alike, suffered under the restriction of religious freedom by the Marxist-Leninist Zhivkov regime which instituted state atheism and suppressed religious communities. The Bulgarian communist regimes declared Islam and other religions to be "opium of the people." As a result of the persecution, 310,000 to 360,000 people are said to have fled to Turkey in 1989.  

16th-century Banya Bashi Mosque, in capital Sofia [

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Author: Nenko Lazarov / Source]

However, since the fall of the Zhivkov regime, Muslims in Bulgaria enjoyed greater religious freedom. New mosques have emerged in many cities and villages; one village built a new church and a new mosque side by side. Some villages organized Quran study courses for young people (study of the Quran had been completely forbidden under Zhivkov). Muslims also began publishing their own newspaper, Miusiulmani, in both Bulgarian and Turkish.

According to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center, 15% of Bulgaria's population is Muslim - a sharp increase from 7.8% in 2014. Almost all Muslims in Bulgaria are Bulgarian citizens. Muslims living in Bulgaria are the largest Muslim minority in any EU country. As per 2001 census, 43 municipalities out of 262 have a Muslim majority. 

Is there Halal food openly available in Bulgaria? Well despite the sizable Muslim population, the answer is no. During the socialist period, most Muslims did not have access to halal food. However, now the notion of halal food is slowly re-appearing as only a few Muslims adhere to dietary restrictions. The majority of Muslims in Bulgaria who adhere to halal food restrictions are recent Arab immigrants to the country. In supermarkets, there are no signs indicating whether food is halal. There are many a eateries in capital Sofia and with little surfing of the net, one can know their exact locations. [5]

Religious ceremony of Bektashi Turks in Deliorman region [Photo: Oasis / © Umut Rosa - Shutterstock]

The Islamophobia notion is slowly creeping into the Bulgarian society and many non Muslim Bulgarians have started to question the Hijab worn by Muslim women. The recent ban on Hijab has met with mixed emotions. Ramiz Sali, former head of the Muslim board in Pazardjik, who now works at the city's 350-year-old Ottoman mosque, told BBC that he didn't care whether a woman covered her face or not, but that Islam only required that she wore a headscarf, while a man at the Abu Bakar mosque told the BBC that the ban was "an affront to the religion", but he refused to elaborate. The Grand Mufti's Office in Bulgaria has rejected the face veil ban bill, saying it infringes on the freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution.

Despite all odds that Muslims face as a second largest religion in Bulgaria, the Muslims continue to enjoy their religious festivities and enjoy their available religious freedom. Watch the video below:

Author's Note: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam click here

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Hong Kong

Hong Kong, an autonomous territory in southeastern China, is a thriving and vibrant tourist country. Of the total population of 7.4 million, which makes it one of the most densely populated country around the world, it has some 300,000 Muslims, which makes it 4.1% of the population of Hong Kong (2016 census). Of these, 150,000 are Indonesians (most of whom are female foreign domestic workers), 50,000 Chinese, 30,000 Pakistanis, while the the rest are from other parts of the world. The vast majority of Muslims in Hong Kong are Sunni. 

The Jamia Mosque, commonly known as the Shelley Street Mosque [Photo: The New Straits Times]

Islam came to areas which now constitute present day Hong Kong with the British Army in the 19th centrality. As Muslim population increased, the British Hong Kong government allocated land for them to build their communities and facilities, such as mosques and cemeteries. In 1849, the first ever mosque was built, the Jamia Mosque. The small mosque, built at the Mid-Level of the famous Shelley Street in Central Hong Kong, strategically located near Old Town Central. The rectangular light green mosque is reflective of Islamic architecture like the arched main entrance and Arabic-style arched windows on all sides.

The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre [Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Author: Shafak Thaika]

At Nathan Road in Kowloon stands the city’s second mosque and the largest mosque in Hong Kong. Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre, built in 1896, is a wide domed structure featuring four 11 meters high minarets. Besides the Mosque the garrisons also constructed a large concrete pool for storing up water for worshipers to make "Wudhu," and water plants and large gold fish were put inside the pool to prevent the water from pollution. The Muslim garrisons also brought their own prayer leader / imam from Campbellpur (Attock) in Pakistan. It can accommodate 3,500 people at a time and it’s usually full especially during Friday prayers. The mosque also frequently holds programmes and classes on the teaching of Islam, the Quran as well as Arabic language. An intermediate course on Islam for non Muslims is also held regularly

There are seven mosques in the city, Ammar Mosque and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre is the third one. The mosque is one the main attraction of the Muslim tourists for here one can find lot of halal food to eat. Located at the fifth floor is the Islamic Centre Canteen which serves Guangdong-style cuisine including assorted halal dim sum and Chinese food. There are also a Chinese restaurant, bakery, medical services, classrooms, library, offices for imam and Quran teachers as well as conference and seminar rooms.

Hong Kong’s tourism players have also made themselves Muslim-friendly attractions. One of these is the Sky 100, the observatory deck of the city’s tallest building — the international Commerce Centre. Muslim travelers will be delighted to find a spacious and clean prayer room located on the same floor, while at its restaurant, Cafe 100 at the deck, offers vegetarian options.

How is the life of Muslims in Hong Kong? Well it is said to be generally very convenient and not much of peep-ins by the non Muslims. Sharifa Leung, a local Chinese born-Muslim who is also the treasurer of the Hong Kong Islamic Youth Association at Ammar Mosque, says: “There aren’t many challenges living in Hong Kong as a Muslim except that there are very few mosques and less knowledge about Muslim food requirements. Life during Ramadan in Hong Kong is like usual except for fasting. We don’t get special treatment but that is alright, but it’ll be great to have the understanding of non-Muslims.” [3]

Qamar Z. Minhas is chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund, the coordinating body for all Islamic affairs in Hong Kong, and he is proud of the history of the five principal mosques that his organisation manages. He can feel the unease when anything goes wrong anywhere in the world and Muslims are blamed. "Of course, we get upset by reading the news, especially when the crimes are undertaken in the name of Islam," he says. "But, as a Pakistani, I have to say we are victims of that, too. The same group of people killed 132 schoolchildren in northern Pakistan [in December]. People who are talking against Islam should understand we are suffering, too, you know. We have condemned these acts and we are victims, too." However, he adds that due to sound management and mutual respect, there is no tradition of sectarianism within Muslim Hong Kong. [2]

In contrast to the widespread media images of terrorists and fiery clerics, the most common face of Islam in Hong Kong is young and female; the domestic helpers who gather in Victoria Park on Sunday afternoons to socialize with other Muslims. "The Indonesian maids coming to people's homes are a sort of Muslim education for local families - when they ask for time to pray or not to cook pork," says Jeffrey Moosa, founder and adviser to the Hong Kong Islamic Youth Association (HKIYA).

There generally seem to be any evidence of radicalization at Muslim schools. At the government-aided Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College, in Chai Wan, cricket nets are more visible than copies of the Koran. The vice-principal is former financial analyst Abu Bakar Ma Wing Cheung, an eighth-generation Chinese Muslim. "The students here are 90 per cent of Pakistan origin [which explains the cricket nets] but we also have some kids from Nepal, some Chinese and some from Sudan. We have two Iranian girls and some from the Philippines and Indonesia. We really cater for non-Chinese," he explains.

The Police of Hong Kong sometimes harass the Muslims in so called search operations. Earlier this year the police was accused of targeting the Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui while conducting a clearance operation even when there were no protesters nearby at the time of the incident. Later after lot of protest by the Muslims, Hong Kong’s leader has apologized over an incident where a mosque in Kowloon was doused with blue dye from a police water cannon truck.

By and large, Muslims in Hong Kong live a comfortable and rather hassle free life and are an active and productive part of the country. They get together on Fridays and Eid prayer congregations and hold central festivities. Halal food is abundantly available and various touristic sites can be accessed on line to know of their location of halal food serving restaurants.

Herein under is an informative video on the Muslim community of the Hong Kong::

Author's Note: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our following reference pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran:

• 114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an for translation, meaning and summary / exegesis of all Sūrahs / chapters of the Quran
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an
• 99 Attributes of Allah for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.
• Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues related to Islam
• Understanding Islam - Frequently Asked Q&A for knowing more about Islam.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

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