From Imam to Researcher
A Critical Reflection on Researching Muslim Chaplains in the UK
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/firn.v9i2.13642Keywords:
higher education, HM Prison, Imam, insider/outsider, Muslim chaplaincy, NHS, positionality, religious training, shalwar kamees, shared religious identityAbstract
This article has been prompted by fieldwork undertaken on the ‘Muslim Chaplaincy in Britain’ project between September 2008 and August 2009. The article evaluates key challenges and sensitivities encountered during the fieldwork. The points for discussion include issues of positionality, insider /outsider, access and interviewing ‘the other’. In particular the article discusses the significance of the researcher’s biography - himself a Muslim Chaplain and Imam- and how these have impacted on the collection and production of data. In this article I will use the argument that ‘shared religious identity’ can and does affect the research process. The intention of the article is to communicate to other Muslim social researchers engaged in research on Islam and Muslims on what to expect in the field.
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References
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Ansari, H. 2004 The Infidel within: The History of Muslims in Britain, 1800 to the Present. Hurst, London.
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Beckford, J. A., D. Joly and F. Khosrokhavar 2005 Muslims in Prison: Challenge and Change in Britain and France. Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9780230501300
Bhopal, K. 2001 Researching South Asian Women: Issues of Sameness and Difference in the Research Process. Journal of Gender Studies, 10(3): 279-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09589230120086485
Bolognani, M. 2007 Islam, Ethnography and Politics: Methodological Issues in Researching amongst West Yorkshire Pakistanis in 2005. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 10(4): 279-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645570701546570
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Davies, C. A. 2002 Reflexive Ethnography: A Guide to Researching Selves and Others. Routledge, London.
Edwards, R. 1993 An Education in Interviewing: Placing the Researcher and the Research. In Researching Sensitive Topics, edited by C. M. Renzetti and M. L. Raymond, 181-96. Sage, London.
Geaves, R. 1996 Sectarian Influences within Islam in Britain, with Reference to the Concepts of ‘Ummah’ and ‘Community’. Monograph Series: Community Religions Project; Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds.
----- 2009 Imams in the United Kingdom. Keynote presentation for the “Muslims in Britain Research Network,” Cardiff University, 8 January 2009.
Gerkin, C. V. 1997 An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, Nashville.
Gilliat-Ray, S. 2000 Religion in Higher Education: The Politics of the Multi-Faith Campus. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Jeffery, P. 1976 Migrants and Refugees: Muslim and Christian Pakistani Families in Bristol. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Lewis, P. 1994 Islamic Britain: Religion, Politics and Identity among British Muslims. I. B. Tauris, London.
Martin, C. 2002 Doing Research in a Prison Setting. In Doing Criminological Research, edited by V. Jupp, P. Davies and P. Francis. Sage, London.
Monahan, L., and C. Renehan 1998 The Chaplain: A Faith Presence in the School Community. The Columba Press, Dublin.
Muslim News 2007 Muslim News, issue 217, Friday 25 May 2007.
Okely, J., and H. Callaway (eds) 1992 Anthropology and Autobiography. Routledge, London. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203450536
Omar, A. D. 2009 Fiqh of Charity in the United Kingdom: Methodological Issues in Researching amongst Muslims in Wiltshire. Unpublished paper at “Researching Muslims in Britain” conference, Cardiff University, 15 April 2009.
Orchard, H. 2001 Spirituality in Health Care Context. Jessica Kingsley, London.
Papadopoulos, I., M. Tilki and G. Taylor 1998 Transcultural Care: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Quay Books, Salisbury.
Papadopoulos, I., and S. Lees 2002 Developing Culturally Competent Researchers. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37(3): 258-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02092.x
Papadopoulos, I. (ed.) 2006 Transcultural Health and Social Care: Development of Culturally Competent Practitioners. Churchill Livingstone, London.
Patton, J. 1993 Pastoral Care in Context: An Introduction to Pastoral Care. John Knox Press, Kentucky.
Quraishi, M. 2008 Researching Muslim Prisoners. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 11(5): 453-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645570701622199
Ramji, H. 2008 Exploring Commonality and Difference in In-depth Interviewing: A Case Study of Researching British Asian Women. British Journal of Sociology, 59(1): 99-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2007.00184.x
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Recommended Reading
Ali, N., V. S. Kalra and S. Sayyid (eds) 2006 A Postcolonial People: South Asians in Britain. Hurst, London.
Anon 1969 University Chaplain. Church Information Office, London.
Bose, N. U. I., and F. M. Bhatti 1997 Care and Rehabilitation of Prisoners in the Muslim Community in Britain. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 17(1): 183-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13602009708716368
Gilliat-Ray, S. 2005 Closed Worlds: (Not) Accessing Deobandi dar ul-uloom in Britain. Equinox, London.
----- 2006 Educating the Ulama: Centres of Islamic Religious Training in Britain. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, 17(1), January: 55-76.
----- 2008 From “Visiting Minister” to “Muslim Chaplain”: The Growth of Muslim Chaplaincy in Britain, 1970–2007. In The Centrality of Religion in Social Life, edited by E. Barker and J. Richardson, 145-57. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Hamza, D. R. 2007 Faith-Based Practice on Models of Hospital Chaplaincies: Which One Works Best for the Muslim Community? Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 2: 65–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15564900701238591
Hollway, W., and T. Jefferson 2000 Doing Qualitative Research Differently: Free Association, Narrative and the Interview Method. Sage, London.
Ministry of Justice 2011a National Offenders Management System, psi-51-2011-faith-pastoralcare. Online: https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2011 (accessed November 15, 2014).
----- 2011b National Offenders Management System, NSF 12.1. The Identification, Initial Categorisation and Management of Potential and Provisional Category A/Restricted Status Prisoners. Online: http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/noms/noms-directory-of-services-and-specifications (accessed November 15, 2014).
----- 2011c National Offenders Management System, NSF 1.2. Categorisation and Recategorisation of Women Prisoners, psi-39-2011-womens-cat-recat. Online: https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2011 (accessed November 15, 2014).
----- 2011d National Offenders Management System, NSF 1.1. Categorisation and Recategorisation of Adult Male Prisoners, psi-40-2011-categorisation-adult-males. Online: https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2011 (accessed November 15, 2014).
Papadopoulos, I. 2007a Health ASERT Programme Wales: Enhancing the Health Promotion Evidence Base on Minority Ethnic Groups, Refugees/Asylum Seeker, and Gypsy Travellers. No. 6. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff.
----- 2007b Health ASERT Programme Wales: Enhancing the Health Promotion Evidence Base on Minority Ethnic Groups, Refugees/Asylum Seeker, and Gypsy Travellers. No. 7. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff.
Ansari, H. 2004 The Infidel within: The History of Muslims in Britain, 1800 to the Present. Hurst, London.
Anwar, M. 1979 The Myth of Return Pakistanis in Britain. Heinemann, London.
----- 1996 British Pakistanis: Demographic Social and Economic Position. Birmingham City Council, Race Relations Unit, Birmingham.
Beckford, J., and S. Gilliat 1998 Religion in Prison: Equal Rites in a Multi-Faith Society. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511520815
Beckford, J. A., D. Joly and F. Khosrokhavar 2005 Muslims in Prison: Challenge and Change in Britain and France. Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9780230501300
Bhopal, K. 2001 Researching South Asian Women: Issues of Sameness and Difference in the Research Process. Journal of Gender Studies, 10(3): 279-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09589230120086485
Bolognani, M. 2007 Islam, Ethnography and Politics: Methodological Issues in Researching amongst West Yorkshire Pakistanis in 2005. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 10(4): 279-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645570701546570
Breen, D. 2009 Reflections on the Positionality of the White, Male Non-Muslim Researcher in Muslim Primary Schools: The Realities of Researching Muslim Women. Paper at “Researching Muslims in Britain” conference, Cardiff University, 15 April 2009.
Davies, C. A. 2002 Reflexive Ethnography: A Guide to Researching Selves and Others. Routledge, London.
Edwards, R. 1993 An Education in Interviewing: Placing the Researcher and the Research. In Researching Sensitive Topics, edited by C. M. Renzetti and M. L. Raymond, 181-96. Sage, London.
Geaves, R. 1996 Sectarian Influences within Islam in Britain, with Reference to the Concepts of ‘Ummah’ and ‘Community’. Monograph Series: Community Religions Project; Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds.
----- 2009 Imams in the United Kingdom. Keynote presentation for the “Muslims in Britain Research Network,” Cardiff University, 8 January 2009.
Gerkin, C. V. 1997 An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, Nashville.
Gilliat-Ray, S. 2000 Religion in Higher Education: The Politics of the Multi-Faith Campus. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Jeffery, P. 1976 Migrants and Refugees: Muslim and Christian Pakistani Families in Bristol. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Lewis, P. 1994 Islamic Britain: Religion, Politics and Identity among British Muslims. I. B. Tauris, London.
Martin, C. 2002 Doing Research in a Prison Setting. In Doing Criminological Research, edited by V. Jupp, P. Davies and P. Francis. Sage, London.
Monahan, L., and C. Renehan 1998 The Chaplain: A Faith Presence in the School Community. The Columba Press, Dublin.
Muslim News 2007 Muslim News, issue 217, Friday 25 May 2007.
Okely, J., and H. Callaway (eds) 1992 Anthropology and Autobiography. Routledge, London. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203450536
Omar, A. D. 2009 Fiqh of Charity in the United Kingdom: Methodological Issues in Researching amongst Muslims in Wiltshire. Unpublished paper at “Researching Muslims in Britain” conference, Cardiff University, 15 April 2009.
Orchard, H. 2001 Spirituality in Health Care Context. Jessica Kingsley, London.
Papadopoulos, I., M. Tilki and G. Taylor 1998 Transcultural Care: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. Quay Books, Salisbury.
Papadopoulos, I., and S. Lees 2002 Developing Culturally Competent Researchers. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37(3): 258-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02092.x
Papadopoulos, I. (ed.) 2006 Transcultural Health and Social Care: Development of Culturally Competent Practitioners. Churchill Livingstone, London.
Patton, J. 1993 Pastoral Care in Context: An Introduction to Pastoral Care. John Knox Press, Kentucky.
Quraishi, M. 2008 Researching Muslim Prisoners. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 11(5): 453-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13645570701622199
Ramji, H. 2008 Exploring Commonality and Difference in In-depth Interviewing: A Case Study of Researching British Asian Women. British Journal of Sociology, 59(1): 99-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2007.00184.x
Spalek, B. 2005 A Critical Reflection on Researching Black Muslim Women’s Lives Post-September 11th. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(5): 405-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000232862
Recommended Reading
Ali, N., V. S. Kalra and S. Sayyid (eds) 2006 A Postcolonial People: South Asians in Britain. Hurst, London.
Anon 1969 University Chaplain. Church Information Office, London.
Bose, N. U. I., and F. M. Bhatti 1997 Care and Rehabilitation of Prisoners in the Muslim Community in Britain. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 17(1): 183-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13602009708716368
Gilliat-Ray, S. 2005 Closed Worlds: (Not) Accessing Deobandi dar ul-uloom in Britain. Equinox, London.
----- 2006 Educating the Ulama: Centres of Islamic Religious Training in Britain. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, 17(1), January: 55-76.
----- 2008 From “Visiting Minister” to “Muslim Chaplain”: The Growth of Muslim Chaplaincy in Britain, 1970–2007. In The Centrality of Religion in Social Life, edited by E. Barker and J. Richardson, 145-57. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Hamza, D. R. 2007 Faith-Based Practice on Models of Hospital Chaplaincies: Which One Works Best for the Muslim Community? Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 2: 65–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15564900701238591
Hollway, W., and T. Jefferson 2000 Doing Qualitative Research Differently: Free Association, Narrative and the Interview Method. Sage, London.
Ministry of Justice 2011a National Offenders Management System, psi-51-2011-faith-pastoralcare. Online: https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2011 (accessed November 15, 2014).
----- 2011b National Offenders Management System, NSF 12.1. The Identification, Initial Categorisation and Management of Potential and Provisional Category A/Restricted Status Prisoners. Online: http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/noms/noms-directory-of-services-and-specifications (accessed November 15, 2014).
----- 2011c National Offenders Management System, NSF 1.2. Categorisation and Recategorisation of Women Prisoners, psi-39-2011-womens-cat-recat. Online: https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2011 (accessed November 15, 2014).
----- 2011d National Offenders Management System, NSF 1.1. Categorisation and Recategorisation of Adult Male Prisoners, psi-40-2011-categorisation-adult-males. Online: https://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2011 (accessed November 15, 2014).
Papadopoulos, I. 2007a Health ASERT Programme Wales: Enhancing the Health Promotion Evidence Base on Minority Ethnic Groups, Refugees/Asylum Seeker, and Gypsy Travellers. No. 6. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff.
----- 2007b Health ASERT Programme Wales: Enhancing the Health Promotion Evidence Base on Minority Ethnic Groups, Refugees/Asylum Seeker, and Gypsy Travellers. No. 7. Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff.
Published
2016-01-15
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Omar, A. (2016). From Imam to Researcher: A Critical Reflection on Researching Muslim Chaplains in the UK. Fieldwork in Religion, 10(1), 65-81. https://doi.org/10.1558/firn.v9i2.13642
