Britain has had contact with the Muslim world since the seventh century through trade contacts with Egypt and Palestine, which had come under Muslim control. It is likely that Britain also conducted trade with Muslims residing in Andalusia (Muslim Spain and Portugal). Later records indicate the presence of Arab Muslims in London from the twelfth or thirteenth centuries, presumably for trade purposes. From the sixteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century, British relations with the Muslims were cordial. In the late sixteenth century, following on from the steps taken by her father King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I arranged a defence treaty with the Ottomans in 1587, and later Britain formed political links with Muslim territories as far away as India and Persia (Hellyer 2007: 226–7). A few centuries later, Muslims began to migrate to Britain.

In this chapter I examine the migration of Muslims to Britain, their settlement patterns and transition to becoming citizens of Britain. The material produced here is a precursor to my discussion on the national identity of Muslims in Chapter 4.

I begin with a brief migration history of British Muslims, including an account of resistance and support from the wider society in the course of their settlement and of the contribution Muslims have made to their new ‘home’. Second, I discuss Muslim settlement in five cities of Britain – London, Leicester, Bradford, Leeds and Cardiff – based on research I have conducted in these cities consecutively. Finally, I consider the socioeconomic status of the respondents of this study.