The cultural identity of Finnish Muslim converts: challenges and realities

Ahmad, Iman and Shehu, Fatmir Mehdi (2026) The cultural identity of Finnish Muslim converts: challenges and realities. IIUM Journal of Religion and Civilisational Studies, 9 (1). pp. 35-49. E-ISSN 2637-112X

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Abstract

This study seeks to examine the cultural identity of Finnish Muslim converts, emphasising the challenges and realities faced by them. Its goal is to explore the challenges faced by the Finnish Muslim converts, not only because they need assistance in integrating into the Muslim ummah, but also because they are a pivotal bridge between native non-Muslims and the acceptance of Muslims with their Islamic identity as part of Finnish society. The Finnish Muslims are of diversity of ethnicities comprising mostly refugees, asylum-seekers, and their families, who have been throughout the wave of migration to Finland from the late 1980s and have been perceived negatively by the Finnish public. Furthermore, Islam is perceived as an immigrant religion, and as such “Otherisation” is the challenge experienced by Muslims, who are marginalised by the native Finnish community. Such treatment includes the native Finnish Muslims (converts), who have left their previous traditions and culture. This research is literature-based, to which descriptive, historical, and analytical methods are applied. The main challenges faced by Finnish￾Muslim converts from the perspective of cultural identity are addressed in this study through a discussion on (1) the arrival of Tatars in Finland, (2) the second wave of Muslims, (3) perceptions of Islam and Muslims in Finland, (4) Lutheranism in Finland, (5) ethnicity within Finnish cultural identity, (6) challenges faced by Finnish Muslim converts, (7) realities, and (8) future outlook. It is concluded by this study that Finnish Muslim converts navigate a complex intersection of religion, culture, and national identity, often facing “Otherisation” and “marginalisation,” while striving to integrate Islamic teachings with Finnish values, emphasising the need for better religious understanding and stronger efforts to address Islamophobia, while maintaining their bridge to their Finnish identity. This could, in the future, also pave the way for interreligious dialogue.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cultural identity, Finnish Muslims, converts, challenges and realities, interreligious dialogue.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP170.82 Unity of Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP170.85 Da'wah. Mission of Islam. Summons, invitation, etc. B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP171 Relation of Islam to other religions B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP174 The Practice of Islam > BP188 Islamic religious life B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP190.5 Islamization of Knowledge B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP50 History > BP52.5 Muslim in non-Muslim countries B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP50 History > BP62 By race, ethnic group, tribe, etc.
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Usul al-Din and Comparative Religion
Depositing User:	DR. FATMIR SHEHU
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2026 16:42
Last Update:	25 Sep 2026 16:42
Queue Number:	2026-09-Q5260
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131491
Indexed In:	Google Scholar

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