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Part of a series on Islam by continent |
Islam is the largest non-Christian faith in Wales, with 22,000 members recorded in the country at the 2001 Census. The earliest recorded connections between Wales and the ‘Muslim world’ dates back to the early 12th Century.[1] The first purpose-built mosque was erected in Cardiff in 1947,[2] and prior to that, the first officially registered mosque in the UK.[3]
Today, Wales has about 40 mosques, most of which are in Cardiff, with others in Aberystwyth,[4] Bangor, Barry, Haverfordwest, Lampeter, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, Port Talbot, Swansea and Wrexham
The first university in the UK to be awarded by FOSIS (Federation of Students Islamic Societies, UK & Éire) for the best mosque facility on campus was a Welsh University – Swansea, which received the accolade in 2007.[5]
In 2006, the first scout group for Muslims was launched in Cardiff with over 100 members.[6]
In 2008, plans were announced to build an Islamic Centre in Carmarthen.[7] A college for training Muslim clerics has been established in Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire.[8]
New Muslim Network Wales was established in the later part of 2001 to provide support and advice to converts to Islam and their non-Muslim family. The group also provides advice to Mosques and other Islamic organisations on Dawah work & community relations.
In 2003, the Muslim Council of Wales was established with affiliates across Wales to represent the Muslim community in the public sphere.
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The first evidence of Muslims in Wales is King Offa's coin. The coin, minted in 774CE has the Islamic declaration of faith in Arabic on the front.
Cardiff is also home to one of the earliest Muslim communities in the United Kingdom.
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