Is Muslim integration in Europe possible?

In order for an adherer of the Muslim faith to successfully immigrate and integrate himself into Western society he must undergo the transformation that Judaism has adapted over its centuries under Western/Christian influence. Judaism originated in Judea similar to Islam as the all encompassing cultural structure of a sovereign people that have lived there for more than a millennia and a half.

Upon being dispersed and seeking to be accepted by the European countries that hosted them, Jews of their volition initiated reforms and adapted Judaism as a ritualistic religion detached for the most part from daily life. They tried to minimize any blunt differences in their appearance, other than that which was imposed upon them and the moment emancipation was awarded great masses of them embraced the language and culture of the more liberal countries.

As early as the 1700s, Jews proudly proclaimed themselves loyal citizens of the country they were in, merely practicing the religion of Moses. In the United States and many other Western countries Jews adapted “local” sounding names in their ongoing yearning to be accepted by their host society.

Prior to such general reformation there were many sporadic attempts of Jewish individuals to integrate into their non-Jewish surroundings. Noteworthy are Maimonides, Abarbanel and Spinoza. These people lived prior to a general reform in the perception of Jewish society and they were therefore the exception to the rule. The only reason the first two were not shunned by the Jewish community is because in addition to their liberal attitudes they were regarded as great religious scholars.

Therefore, on an individual basis, Muslims can successfully integrate themselves into Western society, on the condition that they adopt a liberal mentality. Consequently, by all likelihood they will be removing themselves from the mainstream of Islamic society and such actions may even have vindictive results (see Salman Rushdi).

Since Muslim countries do exist and Islam is the national culture in those countries, Islam will probably not lose its cultural and political aspects.

Therefore, Muslims that wish to integrate into a Christian society would be pioneering uncharted and unacceptable grounds in the perception of their Muslim homelands by refuting their Muslim culture and accepting that of their new host country.

Such conduct could be perceived by their kinsmen as a betrayal of their heritage and so even keeping to their religion will probably be a difficult personal ordeal. It would seem that the more “secular” a Muslim is, the easier it would be for him to integrate in Christian society, especially as it is greatly secular itself.

Muslims have accused Christians that they aren’t really religious exactly for that reason. By that token, a Muslim who would be secular and adapt non-Muslim name and conduct would probably be perceived by his people as having left Islam.

Muslims who do wish to integrate should be aware of the additional objective difficulties. There are many factors that hamper successful integration: mass immigration, different culture, the recentness of this immigration, just to name a few.

Even a Muslim who wishes to integrate completely into European society, enthusiastically picking up everything he can from the local culture, will have to take into account that it might only be his children and grandchildren who will actually reap the fruits. This was/is true in the United States and it doubly true in ethnic societies such as those in Europe.