27 December 2009
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Islam in Jersey

Islam in Jersey: The Practicalities

In the second of her six-part series, BBC Radio Jersey's Jo Sokill found out more about how Jersey's Muslims go about living as they are required to by Sharia law.

Islamic texts

As a Muslim you're expected to believe in one God (Allah), pray five times a day, refrain from drinking alcohol, eating pork or any meat that hasn't been killed in a certain way.

If you're a woman you should keep yourself covered from your chin to your ankles and will wear the hijab and the jilbab, a headscarf and a long dress.

You're also not supposed to accept interest on a bank account and may require a special mortgage in keeping with Sharia Law.

So how do you go about this in an island like Jersey? With part two of BBC Radio Jersey's series on Islam, Jo Sokill found out more.

Although the graves are in the grounds of a Parish churchyard, at Jersey's Muslim cemetery their appearance is very different.

A grave in Jersey's Muslim Cemetery

The graves are narrow because when a Muslim dies his body must be turned on its right side with the face pointing towards the holy land of Mecca.

It's just one of many challenges to Muslims living in Jersey living their lives according to the Qu'ran and the principals of Sharia law.

Moya Grady was born in Jersey but converted to Islam a few years ago. She says many Muslims who can not get halal meat in the island choose only to eat fish and vegetables.

But there is flexibility within the religion for those not living in a Muslim country. The Qu'ran says God did not make man to suffer and so if a Muslim is living where it's not possible to get halal meat they should not go without; the exception is pork which is haram: forbidden in Islam, as in the Jewish faith.

When it comes to banking, Jersey works on western principles which also presents problems for Muslims investing their money. In Islam interest (riba) is forbidden but this is something that Jersey's finance houses are keen to know more about. Speaking at a conference on Sharia Law in the island, Trevor Norman from the Volaw trust explained:

"Arabs or residents of the GCC will not invest in the US; huge opportunity for Jersey."

Trevor Norman from Volaw Trust

"Residents of the Gulf region have problems investing in the US, the Patriot Act and various other aspects post 9/11. America has turned against former allies in the Gulf and the Arabs or residents of the GCC [Gulf Co-operation Council] will not invest in the US; huge opportunity for Jersey."

So while the island's finance houses are being schooled in Islamic finance to promote themselves to rich clients from wealthy Arab countries in the Gulf, it's a different story for the individual Muslim living here.

Laura Stewart was born in Jersey but converted to Islam and now lives in the UK. She used to work in banking in Jersey but found difficulties arose when she became a Muslim.

"There are Muslims in Jersey who want to be able to have Sharia-compliant banking, but as far as I know and until now they don't have that."

Friday prayers in Jersey

However all this may be changing. High street banks in the UK are now introducing mortgages for Muslims perhaps it's only a matter of time before the same happens here.

To read the rest of the 'Islam in Jersey' series, simply click on Parts 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6 on the right hand side of this page.

Listen to Islam in Jersey

This part of Jo Sokill's six-part BBC Radio Jersey series can be heard again by clicking on the audio link at the top right hand side of this page.

last updated: 19/07/05

Have Your Say

Khuram
Islam and PEACE don't mix, just take a look at the recent attacts on minorities in Pakistan Get the real news before making such comments

Zeenath
salam, yes I am planning a trip with my family to Kersey (UK). Please can you tell us where we can eat out that is halal??? I rang some of the Indian restaurants for example, some of which told me the lamb and chicken is halal but others told me to take no notice and only the chicken is halal!can anybody help?

Mustafa Al-Naseri
Assalaamu AlaykumAs someone living in London I have to say I'm amazed that Islam has spread itself to the Channel Islands!As a complete way of life, Islam is the solution to all of life's problems, and I pray by now Russel that you have embraced these solutions.

Ramzi
Asalaamualaykum. In fact Ibrahim, the covering of the female is a requirement, rather an obligation, by the consensus of the Muslims scholars. Therefore my brother please do not make assumptions, instead let us learn our religion and then we can be of those who explain to people this clear message. Because Islaam is free from how the media generally portrays it to be. It is a just religion. I am revert (convert) myself and after studying Islaam from its sources I reliased that it wasn't actually oppressive. So let us all allow those who undertand the religion to be the ones teaching it so that all this confusion can faze out. As one of the early islamic scholars wisely stated (Imam Buhkari) 'Knowledge preceeds speech and action' rfarage@hotmail.com

Russell
I respect Islam alot, and think it is the only religion that has truth in it. It has no contradictions at all in it and has some beautiful writings and revealings in the Qu'ran. I live in a Muslim area and have become very fond of the people as they are very caring and open. I don't think religion causes wars, its power money and greed that does. I don't know where people get that idea from.

Ibrahim
First things first. I am a lecturer and the opening statements of this article are wrong. Women do not have to be covered, only dressed modestly, (an asking of any parent to there daughter) You do not have to wear a Hijab or Jilbab, this is a cultural decision not one required by Islam. The Qu'ran states that you you must veil your bossoms (Veil means to cover) which means to cover only your breasts not your entire body. Please note this for any future BBC documentaries as you are corrected upon this matter frequently and never correct it.

shar
salam are there any halal take aways and restaurants in jersey? and hwere are they thanks

Ken Tiwari
The biggest problem in this world is-and have been for thausands of years is religeon,no one should be made to do, they don't want

Aleena
nice sire but not facing the camra where ppeople can see how the person looks like when you are praying!

Kamran Jamal
Salam jazak Allah for all the brothers and sisters who have given in so much of information on islam in jersey i would like to ask about russell meats is this halal or is this jewish meat the kosher meal or the real halal meat by our islamic sharia, also I would also like to ask about any masjids and is there any community to join like any arab muslims or pakistani muslims as im a born paksitani and brought up as an arab in dubai

Moya
Shar, You can buy halal meat from Russell Meats, who have halal chicken and lamb.

Moya
Jubeda, The muslims in Jersey would be pleased to meet with you should you visit Jersey. You can find many of the doctors at the General Hospital in Jersey. Contact Dr abdul Baky Alaa on (01534) 62204 or Dr.Jamali c/o of the hospital. I can be contacted via this website or or via BBC RADIO JERSEY or Dr.Alaa.

shar
salam does anybody know where to get halal food in jersey

Jubeda Momoniat
I was relly plesed to hear about muslims in Jersy.....I know islamis a universl relegion but still came as surprise...would love to visit some of these muslim when in jersey is this possible?

Ryan (Host)
Suleman thank you for using the bbc.co.uk/jersey site but this is a site for people living in Jersey, Channel Islands a small British island just off the coast of France.

But thank you again for the information.

suleman
there is a all muslim cemetery in nj its called jersey state memorial park located in millstone nj. it is off exit #8 njtp.

Chris Robertshaw
I really do feel sorry for the vast majority of muslims who live their lives peacefully. Muslims must be sick of feeling as though they have to justify every single thing they do or belief they hold. Many muslims have already said that the 9/11 and London bombings were committed by people who have nothing to do with islam, rather than people who use religion to commit these atrocious acts in order to further their own twisted ends. I just wish that people would stop using these attacks as an excuse in order to vent their own racist prejudices.

Caroline Lallis
I think that it is really unfair that Muslims are mistreated just because one or two act out in disgusting ways(London Bombing etc.). People don't do that to Christians when Mass murderers happen to be Christian, so why do it to any other religeon?

Tariq,UK
In reply to Kevin, If muslims have integrated into the society, as a British Muslim I have learned the language, the culture and like many of the majority of Muslims we have obeyed the laws of the land, however in every tradition, there is extremism and that only applies to a few which the media will prey on easily to sell news.

It is this Iago factor that the muslims want to diminish and try and reconcile with our fellow citizens.

Please view this concept not partly but wholly and am certain you will find the correct answers to your questions.

And in response to your second question, No there is no compromise in divinity, devout Christians will also testify to that the very notion of mass and prayers in one place at the same time would sound quite absurd, for other faiths to co-exist with one another it is not necessary that they share places of worship but to rather share hearts and mind and work towards a peaceful society.

Kevin
I have been listening with interest to the series on Islam that you are running this week.

So far you haven't addressed any of the negative aspects of Islam that often make it into the national media. For example, many people consider that muslims do not try and integrate into the local community.

Some might even say that they are more likely to do the reverse, demanding acceptance of their religion and their culture, ( sometimes using intimidation ie Salman Rushdie's book burnings etc ) which typically is quite different to that of the local non-muslim community.

I have two questions for you:
1) do the muslim(s) that you have been interviewing feel that the same understanding and tolerance should be afforded to non-muslims who live in Islamic countries and
2) should the boot ever be on the other foot, would the local Islamic congregation be willing to return the kind gesture of Canon Frances and allow his Roman Catholic congregation to worship in their mosque?

Islam in Jersey

Islam in Jersey: The Practicalities

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