Estonia has one of the smallest Muslim communities in Europe. According to the census of 2011, the number of people who profess Islam was 1,508 in Estonia, or 0.14% of the total population. The number of practicing Muslims is small and, in the absence of a mosque, the Estonian Islamic Center serves as a center of worship.
According to a 2008 estimate, there are approximately 4,000 Muslims living in Estonia.[2] The largest Muslim groups in Estonia consist of Tatars (of Mishar origin) and Azeris. There are also smaller amounts of Muslims belonging to various regional and ethnic backgrounds (including converts to Islam). The majority of Muslims in Estonia are Sunni except for the Azeris, who are Shia.[3] Most Estonian Muslims live in or around Tallinn.[2]
History
Coins from the Islamic world minted as early as the 8th century have been discovered in Estonia, which were brought to the area by Viking merchants.[4]
The earliest documented presence of Muslims in Estonia occurred when Muslim soldiers from the Russian Empire arrived in Estonia during the Livonian War in the 16th century.[3] The first Muslims to settle in Estonia were mostly SunniTatars who had been released from the military service in the Russian Army after Estonia and Livonia had been conquered by the Russian Empire in 1721.[3] The small Tatar community became concentrated within Tallinn and by the mid-19th century, had established a mosque with a serving imam.[5]
After 1860, a new wave of Tatar immigrants arrived in Estonia as merchants.[5] The Tatar community started showing activity, the centre being in the city of Narva although some also settled in Tallinn and Tartu. The Tatar community opened shops and engaged in trade.[5] A Muslim congregation (Narva Muhamedi Kogudus) was registered there under the independent Republic of Estonia in 1928 and a second one (Tallinna Muhamedi Usuühing) in Tallinn in 1939.[3][5] A house built for funds received as donations was converted into a mosque in Narva.[citation needed]
In 1940, the Soviet authorities banned both congregations, and the buildings of the congregations were destroyed during World War II (in 1944). The overwhelming majority of Muslims immigrated to Estonia during the Soviet occupation of Estonia between 1940 and 1991.
The Muslim community in Estonia is considered tolerant and politically moderate. Unusually in the global context, the Sunnis and Shias worship jointly.[6]
^"Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". Pew Research Center. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
^ abRingvee, Ringo (2012). "Estonia". Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 5. Brill. ISBN978-90-04-25586-9.
^ abcdOzkan, Aysha (2009). "Estonia". In Larsson, Göran (ed.). Islam in the Nordic and Baltic Countries. Routledge. pp. 90–98. ISBN978-0-415-48519-7.
^Hussain, Tharik (March 2017). "The European Muslims You Have Never Heard About". Bahath. Retrieved 2022-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Islam in Estonia. 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine(in Estonian)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Islam in Estonia.
Mis on Islam
Webmagazine about Middle-East and islam ISLAM.EE
Halal food in Estonia
August 17, 2023
islam, estonia, estonia, smallest, muslim, communities, europe, according, census, 2011, number, people, profess, islam, estonia, total, population, number, practicing, muslims, small, absence, mosque, estonian, islamic, center, serves, center, worship, islam,. Estonia has one of the smallest Muslim communities in Europe According to the census of 2011 the number of people who profess Islam was 1 508 in Estonia or 0 14 of the total population The number of practicing Muslims is small and in the absence of a mosque the Estonian Islamic Center serves as a center of worship Islam in Europe by percentage of country population 1 90 100 AzerbaijanKosovoTurkey 70 90 AlbaniaKazakhstan 50 70 Bosnia and Herzegovina 30 40 North Macedonia 10 20 BulgariaCyprusGeorgiaMontenegroRussia 5 10 AustriaSwedenBelgiumFranceGermanyGreeceLiechtensteinNetherlandsSwitzerlandUnited KingdomNorwayDenmark 4 5 ItalySerbia 2 4 LuxembourgSloveniaSpain 1 2 CroatiaIrelandUkraine lt 1 AndorraArmeniaBelarusCzech RepublicEstoniaFinlandHungaryIcelandLatviaLithuaniaMaltaMoldovaMonacoPolandPortugalRomaniaSan MarinoSlovakia Contents 1 Demography 2 History 3 Mosque 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksDemography EditAccording to a 2008 estimate there are approximately 4 000 Muslims living in Estonia 2 The largest Muslim groups in Estonia consist of Tatars of Mishar origin and Azeris There are also smaller amounts of Muslims belonging to various regional and ethnic backgrounds including converts to Islam The majority of Muslims in Estonia are Sunni except for the Azeris who are Shia 3 Most Estonian Muslims live in or around Tallinn 2 History EditCoins from the Islamic world minted as early as the 8th century have been discovered in Estonia which were brought to the area by Viking merchants 4 The earliest documented presence of Muslims in Estonia occurred when Muslim soldiers from the Russian Empire arrived in Estonia during the Livonian War in the 16th century 3 The first Muslims to settle in Estonia were mostly Sunni Tatars who had been released from the military service in the Russian Army after Estonia and Livonia had been conquered by the Russian Empire in 1721 3 The small Tatar community became concentrated within Tallinn and by the mid 19th century had established a mosque with a serving imam 5 After 1860 a new wave of Tatar immigrants arrived in Estonia as merchants 5 The Tatar community started showing activity the centre being in the city of Narva although some also settled in Tallinn and Tartu The Tatar community opened shops and engaged in trade 5 A Muslim congregation Narva Muhamedi Kogudus was registered there under the independent Republic of Estonia in 1928 and a second one Tallinna Muhamedi Usuuhing in Tallinn in 1939 3 5 A house built for funds received as donations was converted into a mosque in Narva citation needed In 1940 the Soviet authorities banned both congregations and the buildings of the congregations were destroyed during World War II in 1944 The overwhelming majority of Muslims immigrated to Estonia during the Soviet occupation of Estonia between 1940 and 1991 The Muslim community in Estonia is considered tolerant and politically moderate Unusually in the global context the Sunnis and Shias worship jointly 6 Mosque EditEstonian Islamic CenterGallery Edit Islamic Golden Age coins found in Estonia References Edit Religious Composition by Country 2010 2050 Pew Research Center 12 April 2015 Retrieved 22 October 2017 a b Ringvee Ringo 2012 Estonia Yearbook of Muslims in Europe Volume 5 Brill ISBN 978 90 04 25586 9 a b c d Ozkan Aysha 2009 Estonia In Larsson Goran ed Islam in the Nordic and Baltic Countries Routledge pp 90 98 ISBN 978 0 415 48519 7 Hussain Tharik March 2017 The European Muslims You Have Never Heard About Bahath Retrieved 2022 09 06 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c d Abiline Toomas Ringvee Ringo 2016 Estonia Muslim Tatar Minorities in the Baltic Sea Region Brill Publishers pp 105 127 ISBN 978 90 04 30584 7 OCLC 934437242 Islam in Estonia Archived 2007 03 11 at the Wayback Machine in Estonian External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Islam in Estonia Mis on Islam Webmagazine about Middle East and islam ISLAM EE Halal food in Estonia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Islam in Estonia amp oldid 1155204496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
