More and more Muslims are moving to Britain everyday, each for a different reason. Some might come to Britain because of dangers in there own countries, some might have come here for the job opportunities. The Muslims that we want to focus on now is the Somalian Muslims. These are the Muslims that I shall be using as an example for my project.
Somalia is a Republic, which means that a president rather than a King or Queen rules it. Somalia is on the east of Africa, and some Africans might also know it as the Horn of Africa. This country thrives in agricultural goods, and most Somalians, which are about 80% of them, are farmers. Two-fifth of Somalia was once part of the British Empire, another two-fifth part of the Italian Empire and one-fifth part of the French Empire. The British ruled most of the north of Somalia, the Italians ruled the south of Somalia, and the French ruled the very top of the north of Somalia, which is now known as Djibouti. Somalia began fighting for its freedom in the late 50s and got it in the 60s, the British gave back the north of Somalia on the 26th of June 1960, the Italians left on the 1st of July 1960, and the French finally released the north-east in the year 1972. Somalia then established their government and lived a peaceful life till, the civil war, which began on December 1990, and still is going on till this day.
Somalia is a Muslim country, and has been throughout most of its known history. It’s first inhabitants which where nomadic tribes converted when, the Muslim migrants of Mecca went through the country to find the Abyssinian King. From then on the Somali’s lived by the Muslim law set by the Prophet (PBUH), and still do till this day.
Britain on the other hand is a Christian country, which lives by the laws set by the monarchy and the British Parliament. Muslims started to move to Britain in the 1940’s. They where a majority of Asian's, who where looking for jobs that were then on offer in Great Britain. They set up homes here and set about their daily lives. It was hard for them perform their Muslim duties such as their daily prayers, since their British employers didn’t understand the implication this mayor pillar had in their lives. Their where no mosques in Britain so men couldn’t go to their Friday prayers, which is an obligation for them. But they over came the difficulties by gathering in relative’s houses, and then going on to hire halls, and by finally building the first British mosque. It wasn’t much but it started a whole new revolution of the empowerment of the British Muslims. And the better understanding of their beliefs and traditions by their fellow non-Muslim Britons.
The Asian Muslim’s where not the only ones to come to England. Somalian sailors also set up homes in Britain. They came here to trade goods with the British. There were not a lot of Somalians so they where not told apart from other black Africans, that’s why there is not a lot of history on them. But they had the same troubles as their Asian friends. They found it hard to be able to fulfil their religious requirements such as their five pillars, since they where not formally recognised as Muslims. In those days a Muslim was an Asian person. The government included the racial discrimination in the Statute Book as a crime. The Race Relations Act (1976) was passed, and any discrimination on the basis of race in opportunities for employment was considered a criminal offence. But it was defaulted since Muslims are a faith community and do not fit into a strict racial definition. This problem led to Somalians and other Muslims which where not Asian being discriminated against their religion, and not being protected by the law. This was later corrected by adding the Public Order Act, 1986 and including discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, along with the present grounds of colour, race and nationality (this includes citizenship, ethnic or national origin). Finally the Somalia’s religious beliefs were officially recognised, and they had the same benefits as their Asian fellow Muslims.
This was all alright but there are still more battles needing to be fought on the Muslim side, and not just by the Somalian one. The first problem was the problem of the Interest (Riba) that’s put on almost everything here in Britain. It is forbidden for a Muslim to either give or receive Riba "Those who consume ‘Riba’ cannot rise up save as he ariseth whom the devil hath struck mad by (his) touch…" (Surah 2:275). If one where living in a Muslim country they would not need to worry about this as there is no interest charges on things in those countries. As it is forbidden to do so in the Islamic law. However their have been little steps being taken now to insure a equal service towards the Muslim population of Britain, as HSBC bank is the first mayor British bank to be introducing an Islamic mortgage, that complies with the Islamic law (shir’ria). This was a problem solved for the Muslims, as before no Muslim could go into getting a mortgage. The problem was the high amount of interest put on the mortgage. So Muslims had to save up and then pay it all of in one go. Much harder said than done. Since putting the money in a bank would attract the interest payments the banks pay you, and leaving it around the house would attract the thieves looking for a quick buck. Thankfully, since then there have also been pensions plans introduced that will suite the Muslim elders, and also a stock broking service launched, which both comply with the Islamic law. The pension plan has been made so that the companies, which the pension is being taken from, are not dealing in anything that is against the Islamic law. This shows that the British government is willing to help the British Muslims live an equal and peaceful life here in Britain.