Demographics of Muslim Identity
– In several countries, self-reported Muslims practice the religion at low levels.
– Majority of Muslims in the Balkans and Central Asia are cultural or nominal Muslims.
– Muslim immigrants in the US and Western Europe often identify as cultural Muslims.
– Orthodox observance of the faith is less widespread among Algerians.
– Majority of Muslims in Azerbaijan are nominal or cultural Muslims.
– Some Bangladeshis are nominal or cultural Muslims.
– Majority of Muslims in Belgium are non-practicing.
– Bosniaks are described as Cultural or Progressive Muslims.
– Religion is not of primary importance to Bulgaria’s Muslims.
– Most Muslims in Central Asia have nominal or cultural affiliation to Islam.
– Many Muslim Australians identify as secular, nominal, or cultural Muslims.
– Indonesian Muslims are divided between nominal and orthodox Muslims.
– Iranian diaspora is largely secular and cultural Muslims.
– Turkmen minority in Iraq are mainly cultural Muslim and secular.
– Israeli Muslims are more religious than Israeli Jews but less religious than Muslims in other Middle Eastern countries.
– The majority of Kosovo Albanians are cultural/nominal Muslims.
– Many Moroccans are described as nominal or cultural Muslims.
– Turkish Cypriots generally secular and cultural Muslims.
– Many Muslim youth in Norway are nominal or cultural Muslims.
– Majority of people with Muslim background in Sweden secular or irreligious.
Religious Practices and Beliefs
– A 2012 Pew Research Center survey showed low mosque attendance in countries like Albania, Uzbekistan, and Russia.
– Only a small percentage in countries like Kazakhstan and Bosnia and Herzegovina consider religion very important.
– In a 2012 Pew survey, religion was important for 81% of Muslim Bangladeshis.
– A 2005 study estimated about 10% of the Muslim population in Belgium are practicing Muslims.
– In a 2012 Pew survey, religion was important for 36% of Muslim Bosnians.
– A 2017 Pew survey found 33% of Bulgarian Muslims view religion as very important.
– In a 2005 survey, 40% of Muslim immigrants in Denmark participated in religious ceremonies/services.
– 79% of Indian Muslims believe in the existence of God with absolute certainty.
– Arab Barometer survey in 2021 showed increased religiosity levels among Moroccans.
– In 2009, only 24% of Muslims in the Netherlands attended mosque weekly.
– 18% of Norwegian Muslims reported visiting mosque weekly in 2006.
– Less than 4% of Russian Muslims interviewed practice Islam.
– At most 40-50% of people of Muslim background in Sweden considered religious.
Cultural Muslim Identities
– Sajid Javid, Salman Khan, Sohail Ahmed, Fareed Zakaria, and Hasan Piker represent diverse cultural Muslim identities.
– Kylie Padilla, Nuseir Nas Daily Yasin, Shohreh Aghdashloo, T-Pain, and Zinédine Zidane have unique perspectives on cultural Muslim identity.
– O’Shea Ice Cube Jackson and Jackson offer unique perspectives on cultural Muslim identity.
– Cultural Muslims may have superficial faith declarations with no impact on practices.
– Label of Cultural Muslim used for those who are secular or irreligious but identify culturally.
Academic Insights and Research
– Cultural Muslims may be religiously unobservant but identify with Muslim culture.
– Many irreligious individuals still identify as Muslims due to family background.
– Research shows that religiosity among Muslim immigrants in Western Europe varies.
– Secular Muslims are a trend among contemporary Western Muslims.
– Secular Muslims identified based on cultural origin and personal experiences.
Unique Perspectives and Trends
– Fasting during Ramadan is seen more as a cultural practice than a sign of piety.
– Muslim youth religiosity in the Netherlands similar to Dutch Christian or Jewish peers.
– Religious practices among Turkish Cypriots considered individual choice.
– Male circumcision in Northern Cyprus more related to tradition than strong religious motivation.
– Importance of Islam decreasing among second-generation immigrants in the Netherlands.
Cultural Muslims, also known as nominal Muslims, non-practicing Muslims or non-observing Muslims, are people who identify as Muslims but are not religious and do not practice the faith. They may be a non-observing, secular or irreligious individuals who still identify with Islam due to family backgrounds, personal experiences, ethnic and national heritage, or the social and cultural environment in which they grew up. However, this concept is not always met with acceptance in conservative Islamic communities.
Cultural Muslims can be found across the world, but especially in the Balkans, Central Asia, Europe, the Maghreb, the Middle East, Russia, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United States. In several countries and regions, self-reported Muslims practice the religion at low levels, and for some, their "Muslim" identity is associated with cultural or ethnic or national heritage, rather than merely religious faith.
