YOUNG British Muslims are far more religious than their non-Muslim compatriots, a new survey suggests. On non-faith issues, however, the two groups share near-identical views.

Almost nine out of ten (89 per cent) young Muslims questioned in a survey prayed at home, and three-quarters regularly visited a mosque. But six in ten (64 per cent) non-Muslims said that they rarely or never prayed at home, and two-thirds (66 per cent) rarely or never visited a place of worship.

The study, by Savanta ComRes, questioned 2073 young people — including 1002 Muslims — aged 16 to 24, for Hyphen, a website that focuses on news, culture, and lifestyle among Muslims in Europe. The survey was carried out between 6 and 21 February.

It found that among the so-called Generation Z (Gen Z) surveyed, most Muslims (71 per cent) looked online for spiritual guidance, while 81 per cent thought that religious leaders had some influence in their lives, from a little to a lot. Nationally, that fell to just 38 per cent.

Nine out of ten Muslims believed that employers should give them time off to celebrate Eid, and two-thirds of all young non-Muslims agreed. Only 17 per cent of non-Muslims disagreed.

Half (51 per cent) of the Muslims saw themselves as more British than Muslim, or British and Muslim equally, and many found Islamophobia a persistent problem. About half of the Muslims reported having experienced it in school, university, a social setting, or work.

Half of all Gen Zs had some form of debt (52 per cent Muslim, compared with 56 per cent nationally); 58 per cent Muslim and 59 per cent nationally rated their financial situation as “secure”. Also, 66 per cent of Muslims and 62 per cent nationally believed that they would own a property by their 30th birthday.

The groups split almost evenly on the problem of climate change: 48 per cent of Muslims and 45 per cent nationally were “very” or “quite” optimistic that the crisis could be managed.

Hyphen’s editor, Burhan Wazir, said: “More research is needed to understand what drives the religiousness of young Muslims compared to other Gen Z groups, and whether this will change over time. What we can deduce is that Gen Z UK Muslims view their faith and national identity as intertwined.

“They live in a country which they regard as diverse, and they enjoy the freedom to express their identity and beliefs, which all help in giving them the confidence to assert their full identity.”

hyphenonline.com