Landmark survey to explore lives of Muslim converts in the UK
Study by the Ayaan Institute aims to reach 1,600 new Muslims and could be largest of its kind since 2010
A major new study aiming to map the experiences of Muslim converts in Britain has been launched by the Ayaan Institute thinktank, marking what researchers describe as the first large-scale project of its kind in a generation.
Led by researcher Yahya Birt, the study seeks to build a clear and up-to-date picture of a group that has often been misunderstood, narrowly framed or overlooked in public discourse.
“There’s a growing hunger in the community for evidence-based understanding, rather than relying on anecdote,” Birt said. “If we want to make meaningful change, we need a clearer, more accurate picture of who we are and what people are experiencing.”
Related content
Estimates of the number of Muslim converts in Britain vary widely, but the most robust data is more than a decade old. A 2010 Faith Matters report put the figure at around 60,000, using 2001 Scottish census data to estimate conversion rates across the UK as a whole. However, more recent estimates, including from Birt, suggest the number could be between 150,000 and 200,000 — though these, too, rely on extrapolations from the 2001 datasets as later censuses did not capture changes in religion.
Muslim converts have been the subject of previous research, but Birt said much of it had been shaped by post-9/11 concerns around extremism and radicalisation rather than everyday experiences.
The new project, launched in April, aims to move beyond those limitations. Combining a large-scale, opt-in online survey of converts with a parallel study of mosques and organisations that support them, the research is designed to capture both personal experiences and institutional practices.
Researchers hope to collect up to 1,600 responses from converts across the UK, alongside data from about 100 organisations. The survey is being distributed through mosques, charities and community networks in an effort to reach a broad cross-section of converts.
Birt acknowledged that reaching those who have disengaged from Muslim communities or left the faith entirely would be more difficult. In those cases, researchers plan to conduct in-depth interviews alongside the survey.
The survey asks participants about their journeys into Islam, their experiences within Muslim communities and the challenges they may face — including why some disengage or leave the faith.
“We want to ask the tough questions,” said Birt. “Not just what’s working well, but where there are gaps or shortcomings in how we support people.”
Alongside the number of converts, the study is also concerned with the quality of their experiences.
“The provision is patchy,” Birt said. “In some places there’s real support, but in others people are left to navigate things on their own, depending on whether they happen to meet the right person or find the right network.”
Birt points to a range of challenges, from a lack of structured support in mosques to inconsistent teaching approaches that may not meet the needs of adult learners.
“A lot of basic materials on Islam are written for madrasa children, which is inappropriate for adult converts,” he said. “It’s improved a lot over the decades, but it’s still problematic and there are gaps that need to be addressed.”
In some instances, converts can feel either overly claimed by specific groups or marginalised and unsupported. “There isn’t always a system in place,” Birt said, describing how new Muslims may rely on chance encounters or personal networks for guidance.
The research also aims to better understand isolation and disengagement, areas that are often overlooked.
“For a decent number of converts, they don’t find a home within the community,” Birt said, adding that understanding these experiences is key to improving long-term support.
The survey’s findings will be published publicly later this year, with the aim of informing the work of mosques, charities and grassroots organisations.
For Birt, the goal is to encourage reflection and reform within Muslim communities themselves. “We need better community leadership and more strategic thinking,” he said. “The purpose of the report is to shine a light on where we fall short and how we can do better.”
