Faith in Transition: Why Thousands of Native Spaniards Are Converting to Islam
By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
7 May 2025
From Catholic Roots to Crescent Faith: More Spaniards Embrace Islam for Spiritual Clarity and Community
Main Points:
1. Granada’s Grand Mosque sees regular conversions, reflecting a wider rise in native Spaniards embracing Islam post-COVID.
2. Spaniards are drawn to Islam for meaning and stability amid global crises like the pandemic and the Gaza conflict.
3. Stories of converts like José, Ana María, Consuelo, and Álex show personal quests for truth despite social resistance.
4. New Muslims often face prejudice but find peace in Islam’s message of compassion and justice, defying stereotypes.
5. With 21,000 native converts, Islam’s growth in Spain signals a deeper cultural shift driven by spiritual conviction.
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In recent years, Spain has experienced a notable increase in the number of native Spaniards converting to Islam, particularly in the southern region of Andalusia. At the heart of this growing movement is the Grand Mosque of Granada, which has become a prominent center for religious transformation. Reports indicate that nearly every Friday, at least one Spanish individual embraces Islam by reciting the Shahada—the Islamic declaration of faith (MINA News). This trend has intensified in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period during which many sought spiritual refuge and communal support amid widespread social and emotional upheaval (Global Village Space).
Umar del Pozo, President of both the Spanish Islamic Society Association and the Granada Great Mosque Foundation, has reported a significant uptick in conversions. He attributes this shift to a deepening interest in the ethical and spiritual teachings of Islam, which offer clarity, purpose, and structure in an increasingly uncertain world (IQNA). In addition to spiritual searching, recent geopolitical events—most notably the Israeli military actions in Gaza—have provoked widespread empathy and led many Spaniards to explore Islam with renewed openness and curiosity (Anadolu Agency).
Today, the Muslim population in Granada numbers approximately 36,000, of whom an estimated 3,700 are native Spanish converts and their descendants (Global Village Space). This growing community is not only a testament to Islam’s enduring spiritual appeal but also to the shifting religious and cultural dynamics within contemporary Spanish society.
More broadly, the phenomenon of native Spaniards—individuals born into historically Catholic families with no prior Muslim heritage—embracing Islam has continued to grow. A report published by the Spanish newspaper ABC in 2015 noted that over 20,000 Spanish-born individuals had already converted to Islam, joining a wider Muslim population that then numbered around 1.7 million, or approximately 3.6% of Spain’s total population.
This article further explores the personal journeys, motivations, and challenges of four such converts—José Ángel, Ana María, Consuelo, and Álex—offering a human dimension to the broader statistical trend.
Background: From Catholic Roots to Islamic Faith
All four converts featured in the ABC report were born and raised in devout Catholic households. Their religious upbringing included baptism, communion, Bible reading, and regular attendance at mass. They even attended Catholic schools, many of them run by nuns, where they were deeply immersed in Christian teachings. Their initial understanding of spirituality and morality was firmly rooted in Christian doctrine, particularly Catholicism, which has historically played a significant role in Spanish cultural and religious identity.
Despite this solid Christian foundation, each of these individuals began to harbor doubts about certain aspects of their faith. Over time, these questions prompted a personal and often quiet journey toward discovering Islam. This transition did not happen overnight. It was the result of reflection, introspection, and in many cases, significant research and exposure to Islamic teachings and Muslims themselves.
Personal Journeys to Islam: José Ángel – A Journalist’s Revelation
At 35, José Ángel, a journalist from Madrid, described his conversion as “the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.” His words encapsulate the transformative power that embracing Islam had on him. As a media professional, José likely had broad exposure to various worldviews and religious philosophies. His journey, like those of the others, began with theological questions that Christianity could not answer to his satisfaction. The monotheistic clarity of Islam—its unequivocal emphasis on the oneness of God (Tawhid)—offered him a resolution to doubts he had harbored for years.
Like others, José had to endure the suspicion and scrutiny that often comes with publicly adopting Islam, especially in post-9/11 Europe. He stated that he had always been capable of separating the “extremism of a few brainless individuals” from “what Islam really is when understood reasonably.”
His perspective reflects an essential distinction that many Muslims, both converts and born into the faith, emphasize: that Islam is often misrepresented by the actions of a minority who do not reflect its principles.
Ana María – A Woman’s Choice, Not Her Husband’s Imposition
Ana María, a 28-year-old from Azuqueca de Henares, made her own decision to convert to Islam and to wear the hijab. Her story challenges one of the most persistent stereotypes about Muslim women: that they are oppressed or forced into religious practices by their husbands. Married to a Moroccan man, Ana María was clear: “It was by no means something imposed by my husband. I made the decision on my own, and he asked me if I was sure.”
Her narrative resonates with broader testimonies of female converts across the Western world. In fact, a 2011 study by the Pew Research Center found that in the United States, 54% of converts to Islam were women, and most cited spiritual search, not coercion, as the primary motivation (Pew Research, 2011).
Ana María’s decision to wear the veil was likewise personal. She wore it neither out of compulsion nor to please others. Instead, it was a manifestation of her identity, her submission to God, and her desire to live a life in line with her newfound beliefs.
Consuelo – A Pioneer Convert from the 1980s
Consuelo, a 55-year-old office assistant, converted to Islam in 1985—a time when the presence of Islam in Spain was still relatively marginal. Her early conversion makes her a trailblazer of sorts. She lamented how people often associate new Muslims with violence. “When people hear that someone has become Muslim,” she said, “they think he’ll show up the next day with a Kalashnikov.”
Her remark points to the damaging effects of media portrayals of Islam, particularly after high-profile terrorist attacks like those of March 11, 2004, in Madrid. These portrayals often paint Islam with a broad brush, conflating the actions of fringe groups with the beliefs of over 1.9 billion peaceful adherents worldwide.
Álex – A Young Seeker of Truth
Álex, a 19-year-old student from Parla, embraced Islam in 2011. His conversion was met with concern from family and friends, who feared he had been “brainwashed.” He strongly rejected such accusations. For him, the journey to Islam had been intellectual and spiritual. His story reflects the struggles faced by many young converts: suspicion, parental concern, and the pressure to justify one's beliefs.
His parents, like many others, worried about the influence of extremist ideologies. But Álex’s experience showed a different reality: a spiritual path that led to abandoning destructive habits and adopting a lifestyle of discipline, prayer, and peace.
A Common Thread: Transformation through Faith
All four individuals described significant changes in their lifestyles following conversion. These were not superficial adjustments but deep transformations. They gave up nightclubbing, drinking, smoking, and even verbal abuse toward family members. Islam's moral code, its emphasis on personal accountability before God, and the importance of family and community ethics reshaped their lives in fundamental ways.
Their stories mirror the testimonies of many other converts across Europe and North America who cite similar improvements in their conduct and mental clarity after adopting Islam. The Islamic focus on prayer, charity, fasting, and ethical living becomes a practical roadmap for reform and growth.
Islam in Spain: A Growing Phenomenon
Spain has a unique historical relationship with Islam. From 711 to 1492, much of the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule, contributing immensely to science, philosophy, art, and architecture in what is now known as Al-Andalus. Today, Islam is the second-largest religion in Spain, with over 2 million adherents, including immigrants and their descendants, but also including native Spanish converts.
According to the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain (UCIDE), as of 2023, there were around 21,000 native Spaniards who had converted to Islam (UCIDE Annual Report, 2023). These numbers, while still small in comparison to other European countries like France and the UK, indicate a steady and sincere trend.
Facing Prejudice and Misunderstanding
Unfortunately, the path to Islam is not free from hardship. Converts frequently encounter suspicion, hostility, and alienation. Family reactions range from sorrow to fear, particularly due to the persistent linking of Islam with terrorism.
However, the converts interviewed in the ABC report stress that their decision was not only voluntary but spiritually fulfilling. They continue to reject the idea that their faith is inherently violent, pointing out the Islamic teachings of mercy, peace, and justice that define their everyday practice.
Islamic scholars across the world echo this sentiment. The Qur’an explicitly condemns unjust violence:
“Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land—it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” (Qur’an 5:32)
And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the people are safe.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 10)
These foundational teachings highlight the disconnect between Islam and the acts of extremism falsely committed in its name.
The Future of Islam in Spain
As the number of Spanish converts continues to grow, so does the need for a more nuanced and informed public discourse around Islam. These stories humanize a trend that is often reduced to statistics or political talking points. They show that conversion to Islam is neither a social rebellion nor a political statement—it is a deeply personal journey toward meaning, structure, and connection with the Divine.
The Spanish government and civil society organizations are slowly beginning to acknowledge this reality. Interfaith dialogue, educational initiatives, and public awareness campaigns can play a crucial role in dismantling harmful stereotypes and promoting mutual respect.
Conclusion
The stories of José Ángel, Ana María, Consuelo, and Álex challenge common misconceptions about Islam and those who choose to embrace it. They represent a broader truth: that faith cannot be imposed, and authentic belief stems from inner conviction. Their journeys highlight not only the spiritual appeal of Islam but also the strength of character required to embrace it in a society that often misunderstands the religion.
Their voices—sincere, thoughtful, and rooted in experience—invite us to see Islam not through the lens of fear, but through the lives of those who have found peace, purpose, and transformation in it.
References:
· IQNA
· ABC España. "Españoles conversos al Islam." Published February 23, 2015.
https://www.abc.es/espana/20150223/abci-espanoles-conversos-islam-201502202245.html
· Pew Research Center. "Muslim Americans: No Signs of Growth in Alienation or Support for Extremism." August 30, 2011.
· UCIDE (Union of Islamic Communities of Spain). Annual Report 2023.
· The Qur’an, Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:32).
· Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 10.
Related Articles:
Distinguishing Conversion and Forced Conversion in India
Why Many Spaniards Convert to Islam
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A regular columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is a classical Islamic scholar [Aalim, Faazil and Mutakhassis Fi al-Adab al-Arabi wa al-Ulum al-Shariah] with a Sufi background and an English-Arabic-Urdu Translator.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-west/faith-transition-spaniards-converting/d/135454
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