The religious identity of Muslims in Britain has come to the fore over the past two decades. The presence of Muslims in Britain has not only changed the character of religion in Britain as a whole, but has ‘given it an importance which is out of step with native trends’ (Modood 1998: 384). A distinctively Muslim presence in British society in a fully involved, if not fully evolved, way is an established fact. What is less well appreciated is just how pervasive – and increasingly influential – this is. At various points throughout this book, it has been necessary to note the manifest contradictions between popular images of British Muslims and their lived reality.

In many ways, this volume has comprised a journey, tracing where Muslims in Britain have come from, geographically and ideologically, to a consideration of their present situation. But what about the future? What can Islam, as a major world religion, offer to British society today at a time of international economic decline, but also a time, if momentarily, of hope and expectation with the election of President Barack Obama whose own journey has been both remarkable and unprecedented? In this closing ‘last word’, I want to explore briefly some of the opportunities.

British Muslims have, unwillingly, seen themselves become the subject of public debate and focus for social and security policy in British society as a result of global events and trends.