Islam in Germany

The number of Muslims in Germany has been increasing steadily. In 2016, estimates suggested there were about 4.4 to 4.7 million Muslims, and even earlier, in 2009, numbers were close to 4.3 million. Some estimates suggest that by 2012, Muslims made up as much as 7% of the population.

Besides those with migrant backgrounds, many people born in Germany have also chosen to embrace Islam. In 2014, it was estimated that between 20,000 and 100,000 Germans had converted to Islam. This number is similar to the conversion rates seen in other European countries such as France and the United Kingdom. The presence of Islam in Germany reflects the country's diverse cultural landscape and the contributions of many communities.

Methodological issues

Germany does not keep a central list of people's religions. People are only recorded as part of a religion if they belong to a recognized group, like a church, mostly for tax reasons. Many Muslims in Germany are not part of a mosque or Islamic group and might not practice their religion at all.

When trying to figure out how many Muslims live in Germany, experts often look at people who come from countries where most people are Muslim. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees says there are about 5.3 to 5.6 million people in Germany from these countries. But this does not tell the whole story, because these individuals might have different beliefs or practices.

Some refugees came to Germany to escape serious problems in their home countries related to their religious choices.

Demographics

Further information: Religion in Germany

Islam is the largest minority religion in Germany, with Protestant and Roman Catholic groups being the main religions. Most Muslims in Germany come from places like Turkey, Arab countries, parts of former Yugoslavia such as Kosovo and Bosnia, and Iranic countries including Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kurdistan, and Iran. There are also smaller groups from West Africa like Gambia and Togo, and from East Africa. Most Muslims live in areas that were once part of West Germany, such as West Berlin, though there are also Muslim communities in rural parts of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Few Muslims live in the area that was once East Germany.

In recent years, many people from outside Europe, including Muslims, have moved to Germany. Most of these people came seeking safety, especially from places like Syria. Today, there are about 5.3 to 5.6 million Muslims in Germany. Most of them follow the Sunnī tradition, with a smaller number being Shīʻa. Experts think the number of Muslims in Germany will continue to grow in the future.

History

Muslims first moved to Germany during the eighteenth century as part of diplomatic and military relations between Germany and the Ottoman Empire. Some served in the Prussian army, and a Muslim cemetery was established in Berlin in 1798.

During the 1920s to the 1940s, the first Islamic institute in Germany was founded. After World War II, many foreign workers, especially from Turkey, came to Germany, causing the Muslim population to grow sharply. By 2016, the number of Muslims in Germany had risen to nearly 5 million, making up about 6% of the population, mainly due to immigration.

Denominations

Muslims in Germany come from many different groups within Islam. The largest group is the Sunnis, with around 2.6 million people. Other groups include Alevis, Twelvers Shi'as, and smaller communities such as Alawites, Ahmadiyya, Salafis, Sufis, Ismailis, Zaydis, and Ibadis. Each of these groups has its own traditions and beliefs, but they all share the faith of Islam.

The different branches of Islam in Germany reflect the diverse backgrounds of Muslims who have moved to the country from various parts of the world.

Islamic organisations

Only a small part of Muslims living in Germany are members of religious groups. Most Muslims in Germany belong to groups that follow Sunni, Shia, or other Islamic traditions.

Sunni groups include organisations such as DİTİB, which is linked to Turkey, and others like the Islamische Gemeinschaft Milli Görüş. There are also Shia groups, such as the Islamische Gemeinschaft der schiitischen Gemeinden Deutschlands, and Ahmadiyya groups, which have communities in several German states. Some Muslims belong to liberal groups, like the Ibn Ruschd-Goethe mosque in Berlin.

There are also many local groups and umbrella organisations, such as the Central Council of Muslims in Germany. In addition, there are many mosques across the country, with most located in cities like Hamburg and Berlin. Since 2010, universities in Germany have begun offering Islamic theological studies to train teachers and scholars.

Controversies

The presence of Islam in Germany has led to some discussions and disagreements. Some people worry about how Islam fits with German culture and laws. For example, in 2016, a political party called the Alternative for Germany suggested banning certain Islamic practices, like wearing burqas or building minarets.

There have also been concerns about some groups within Islam that hold strong, strict views. These groups, sometimes called Salafists, promote ideas that some Germans find very different from their own beliefs. German authorities watch these groups closely to make sure they follow the country's laws. There have been debates about how to balance freedom of religion with keeping everyone safe and united in Germany.

Religiosity of young Muslims

Studies show that many young Muslims in Germany are quite religious. For example, Turkish Muslim youths are more likely to attend religious services than their German peers. About 35% of Turkish Muslim boys and 14% of German boys go to services regularly.

Also, a large part of these young Muslims say they pray often. About 41% of young Turkish Muslim boys and 52% of the girls pray "sometimes or regularly." Many also want to teach religion to their future children—64% of the boys and 74% of the girls plan to do this.

Notable German Muslim immigrants

Islam became more noticeable in Germany after many people from other countries came to work and live there, especially starting in the 1960s. Some well-known German Muslims come from many different backgrounds, such as Turkish, Kurdish, Moroccan, Lebanese, Iranian, and Palestinian origins.

Here are some examples of notable German Muslims:

• Vaneeza Ahmad, a Pakistani-German model
• Laith Al-Deen, a German singer
• Mehmed Ali Pasha, a German-born Ottoman soldier
• Nadiem Amiri, a German professional footballer
• Azet, a German rapper
• Kristiane Backer, a German television presenter and journalist
• Danny Blum, a German Soccer player
• Bushido, a German rapper
• Mahmoud Dahoud, a football player
• Cemile Giousouf, a German politician in the Bundestag
• Karim Guédé, a football player
• Murad Wilfried Hofmann, a German diplomat and author
• Hadayatullah Hübsch, a German writer and journalist
• Lamya Kaddor, a German writer who helped bring Islamic education into German public schools
• Jawed Karim, a German-American Internet entrepreneur
• Elsa Kazi, a German writer and poet
• Hasnain Kazim, a journalist for Der Spiegel and Spiegel Online
• Rani Khedira and Sami Khedira, both German Soccer players
• Sead Kolašinac, a Bosnian professional footballer
• Mojib Latif, a professor, meteorologist and oceanographer
• Jamal Malik, a professor of Islamic Studies
• Shkodran Mustafi, a German professional footballer
• Adel Tawil, a German singer
• Bassam Tibi, a political scientist and professor
• Pierre Vogel, a German Salafi Islamist preacher and former professional boxer

These individuals have made their mark in various fields such as sports, entertainment, writing, and more.