In the previous chapter we have described the basic ‘spiritual architecture’ of Islam in prison and how this affects prisoners’ lives. This chapter explores the types of Muslim prisoner and what motivates prisoners to choose Islam.

Conversion to Islam in prison

Religious conversion in contemporary contexts has primarily been understood as the act of leaving one faith – or no faith – to join another faith, that is, between-faiths conversion.

The process of between-faiths conversion involves adopting the beliefs, values and religious practices of the new faith, as well as typically joining a new faith community and taking on its identity (Rambo and Farhadian, 2014). In other words, it involves adopting a new Worldview (Wilkinson, 2018) together with a new associated in-group (Tajfel, 1981).

Importantly, religious conversion in prison often involves the construction of a new pious, non-criminal identity (van Nieuwkerk, 2014). Because Converts often reinterpret their own autobiography based on their new religious Worldview, the construction of this new pious self can allow prisoners to move away from crime and from former criminal associates (Maruna et al, 2006; Spalek, El-Hassan, 2007; Williams, 2018).

Conversion to Islam

Research on conversion to Islam outside prison shows that it is not necessarily a sudden change; rather it often involves a long process of reflection and search for meaning, whereby a person may initially reject a previous belief and then, after several years, take up an Islamic Worldview (van Nieuwkerk, 2006; Hermansen, 2014).

The appeal of religious ritual often plays a significant role in conversion to Islam: Converts may initially be attracted to Islam by observing Muslim rituals such as prayers, fasting or religious remembrance such as the ritual recitation of the 99 Names of God (dikhr).

The appeal of religious ritual is particularly relevant in the prison environment where prisoners live in close proximity to one another and where Islamic beliefs are regularly articulated on the wings, and Islamic rituals and objects are often on display. Prison life naturally provides the opportunity for prisoners to try out different religious identities, beliefs and behaviours.

Within-faith conversion

While it is more common for religious conversion to be understood as a change from one faith or from no faith to another faith, within-faith conversion refers to significant changes of interpretation and/ or of religious commitment and practice that can occur to someone within their existing faith (van Nieuwkerk, 2006).