Challenges Encountered by New Muslim Reverts in Guyana

Abstract

This study investigates individuals who have recently adopted Islam in Guyana. It aims to establish the struggles they encounter in the initial stage of their journey. The research categorizes the challenges into four categories: psychological, social, cultural, and religious. Highlighting the hurdles that prevent new Muslims from obtaining a seamless transition from one lifestyle to another would assist fellow Muslims, leaders of masjids, and Islamic organizations to understand the challenges from reverts’ perspectives. Consequently, the tension and stress that new reverts experience after embracing Islam could be alleviated by helping to supply sufficient support systems for their integration. The methodology used for gathering data utilized a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. The quantitative procedure involved surveys, which collected information from 77 participants across Guyana, while interviews were conducted with 11 reverts as part of the qualitative process. This hybrid approach facilitated the analysis of measurable data and personal narratives, which highlighted individual and collective challenges. The findings revealed that while spiritual conviction among reverts remained strong, several reverts experienced physical and psychological difficulties caused by strained family relationships and cultural dissimilarity. Additionally, they encountered hurdles in learning Arabic and adhering to Islamic practices due to a lack of sufficient mentorship and communal support. Other challenging issues were identified as social marginalization, especially from non-Muslim relatives and acquaintances, along with the perception of being scrutinized for identifying as a Muslim. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to an under-researched demographic within the Caribbean context. By presenting the voices and concerns of new Muslims in Guyana, this research not only fills a critical gap in Islamic and sociocultural scholarship but also provides practical recommendations for developing inclusive and empathetic strategies to support reverts. The findings aim to encourage policymakers, religious institutions, and Muslim communities to be more responsive, understanding, and proactive in facilitating smoother transitions for new Muslims. DECLARATION I hereby declare that this research paper [Challenges Encountered by New Muslim Reverts in Guyana] comprises solely my original work and has been submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for a Master of Arts in the field of Islamic Studies at the International Open University. This paper has not been submitted previously for any academic or professional qualification. The work of others in this research is clearly acknowledged according to scholarly conventions. Signed: Bibi Rehana Mohamed Date: 1 July 2025