Converting to Salafiyya: Non-Muslims’ Path to the “Saved Sect”

Abstract The article explores the narratives of three Christian-born British converts to Islam who volunteer with City Center Da‘wah, a proselytizing group affiliated with the Salafi Mosque of Birmingham, one of the largest and most influential Salafi mosques in Europe. Drawing on interviews as well as field observations, it examines why the three became Muslim, chose the Salafi version of Islam, and engage in bringing others to Islam. The analysis supports studies that challenge the assumption according to which a major life crisis is an essential trigger for conversion. It highlights the crucial role chance played in the converts’ initial encounters with Islam and with Salafiyya, while pointing to the diverse psychological and social functions the embrace and practice of their new beliefs has served in their lives.