What is the future of Muslims and Islam in the West?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

This research aims to understand and examine the future of Islam and Muslim in Western world. For practicing Islam, one needs to analyse the sacred foundational texts and the respective manner of observing Islamic structure of references as the main instrument or tool which enables human intelligence for developing a association between the relative and the absolute, the accidental and the essential, or, explained in other context, the contingent and the universal realities of human societies. Furthermore, the research has analysed the concept of Ijtihad and how Muslims can incorporate Ijtihad into their lives. Moreover, through extensive research, the research highlights the problems faced by Muslims living in Western World and how Tariq Ramadan thinks they can cope up with the challenges living in Europe.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Research Aims and Objectives1

Research Questions2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW3

Introduction3

Islamic Modernism3

Tariq Ramadan4

Work of Tariq Ramadan- Radical Reform4

Ijtihad8

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY9

Research Method9

Data Collection Procedure9

Secondary Method9

Literature Search10

Limitations10

Ethical Considerations11

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS13

Living Life according to Sharia in West13

Interpretation of Islamic way of living through Ijtihad14

Issues and Challenges faced by Muslims living in West15

Examine the work of Tariq Ramadan (Radical Reforms)16

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION19

REFERENCES21

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Research Background

Muslims in Europe and Britain have been facing unremitting pressures, since there have been attacks on the Pentagon in 2001 and the World Trade Centre (Seddon, 2012, 17). Media and Governments in West have now developed a flawed view that Muslims' adherence and emphasis on Islam has posed risk to the security and safety of the citizen of the country and all the people living in Western countries, thus merging the aspects of citizenship, identity and loyalty with that of terrorism (Seddon, 2012, 17).

On the side of Muslims, it has been observed that they need not to confuse religion and culture together. But with these issues arising, it has been observed that, although, theoretically there is freedom of practice yet Muslims face a lot of challenges while living their life in West and practicing proper Islam according to Sharia. All the Muslims have a responsibility to represent Islam in his or her finest possible way through his/ her behaviour, attitude and views. Muslims living in Western countries have a primary responsibility for communicating the oneness and existence of ALLAH and the moral and ethical values that are supposed to be followed.

Research Aims and Objectives

The main aim of this research is to understand and examine the future of Islam and Muslim in Western world. This aim is achieved by following objectives:

To understand how one ...