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Islam in Scotland includes all aspects of the Islamic faith in Scotland. The first Muslim known to have been in Scotland was a medical student who studied at the University of Edinburgh from 1858 to 1859. The production of goods and Glasgow's busy port meant that many lascars were employed there. Most Muslims in Scotland are members of families that immigrated in the later decades of the 20th century. At the 2011 census, Muslims comprised 1.4 per cent of Scotland's population (76,737).
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History
The first named Muslim known in Scotland was Wazir Beg from Bombay (now "Mumbai"). He is recorded as being a medical student who studied at the University of Edinburgh in 1858 and 1859. Manufacturing and Glasgow's busy seaport meant that many Lascars were employed there. Dundee was at the peak of importing jute, and sailors from Bengal were also seen at its port. Records from the Glasgow Sailors' Home show that nearly a third (5,500) of the boarders in 1903 were Muslim Lascars.
However, the immigration of Muslims to Scotland is a relatively recent event. The majority of Scottish Muslims are members of families who immigrated in the late 20th century. Scotland's Muslims in 2001 represented just 0.9% of the population (42,557), with 30,000 in Glasgow. By 2011, the Muslim population had increased to 76,737, accounting for 1.4% of Scotland's population. Muslims are the third largest non-Christian group after atheists and agnostics. Many Scottish Muslims are of South Asian descent, primarily originating in Pakistan.
Mosques
Three important mosques in Scotland are Edinburgh Central Mosque, which took more than six years to complete at a cost of £3.5m and has a main hall that can hold over one thousand worshippers, Glasgow Central Mosque, Aberdeen Mosque and Dundee Central Mosque are also important mosques.
Education
In 2011, 37.5 per cent of Scottish Muslims held degree level qualifications, compared to the Scotland average of 27.1 per cent. 21.4 per cent of Muslims in Scotland had no qualifications, slightly lower than the 22.9 per cent average for Scotland.