Making Muslim space in North America and Europe

Book Description

This illuminating exploration reveals how Muslim communities across North America and Europe create sacred spaces within predominantly non-Muslim societies. Rather than focusing on political controversies, Barbara Daly Metcalf examines the intimate ways these communities express their faith through daily cultural practices and spatial arrangements.

The book takes readers into diverse Muslim experiences, from middle-class professionals and mosque congregations to factory workers in France and northern England, African traders, and even prison inmates in New York. Through these varied perspectives, a rich tapestry emerges of how Islamic traditions adapt and flourish in new environments.

Central to this study is the concept of "Muslim space" - the creative ways communities use Islamic symbols, practices, and the sacred power of words to transform their surroundings. The research demonstrates how Islam's emphasis on the word takes tangible form as these groups develop word-centered rituals and fill their spaces with the visual and auditory presence of sacred texts.

This work offers valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding how spiritual communities maintain their identity while navigating cultural transitions. By focusing on everyday religious expressions rather than headline-grabbing issues, Metcalf provides a nuanced portrait of faith in practice, showing how communities draw upon their spiritual heritage to create meaning and belonging in new contexts.

The book serves as both scholarly examination and window into the lived experience of contemporary Muslim spirituality.