There are now more Muslims in the Republic than Presbyterians and Methodists combined, writes Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent
NO ONE is quite sure how many Muslims reside in Ireland.
But most people agree that the 2006 census, which records 32,500 members of the Islamic faith in the Republic, very much underestimates the true figure.
In itself, the 2006 figure was a 70.2 per cent increase on the 19,100 total for Muslims in the Republic in the 2002 census.
And, according to Imam Hussein Halawa, chairman of the Irish Council of Imams and imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin's Clonskeagh, the true figure is nearer to 45,000 - made up of around 50 nationalities - in the State.
Census figures in Northern Ireland are similarly believed to underestimate the Muslim population.
The 2001 census recorded 1,943 Muslims in the North, but the Belfast Islamic Centre has estimated that figure at 3,000, with some commentators putting the true number for Northern Ireland in the region of 4,500, which includes about 40 nationalities.
What is clear is that Ireland now has a significant Muslim population.
So significant, in fact, that Muslims are now the third-largest faith grouping in the Republic after Roman Catholics and Church of Ireland members.
In fact, there are now more Muslims in the Republic than Presbyterians (23,500) and Methodists (12,200) combined.
In other ways, too, Ireland's Muslims differ significantly from their co-religionists in other Western European countries.
Ireland's Muslims tend, in the main, to be educated professional and business people. They are spread throughout the island and are found particularly in the cities - Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick - where many work in hospitals and restaurants.
The great majority are Sunni Muslims. However, there is one Shia mosque. It is at the Ahul-Bait Islamic Centre in Dublin's Milltown, where the imam is Dr Ali Al-Saleh (39).
Born in Najaf in Iraq, he has been in Ireland since 1999 and is an Irish citizen. His wife, Zahra Rahim, has had three brothers killed by militias in Iraq. He said that there were about 1,000 Iraqi Shia in Ireland, many of whom attended his mosque, particularly at Ramadan.
It is also believed that there are between 200 and 250 Iraqi Sunnis in Ireland, many of whom attend Friday services at the mosque in Clonskeagh. Both groups of Iraqis tend to keep a low profile in Ireland.
In the main, Ireland's Muslims have integrated well despite their comparatively recent arrival on our shores. Relations between them, the churches and Ireland's Jewish community are "very good", Imam Halawa says. And while there is a Muslim primary school at Clonskeagh, and plans for two more in Dublin, Muslim children have integrated into Ireland's (mainly Catholic-managed) primary schools and into the State's secondary schools.
Ireland's Muslims are also represented on the Three Faiths Forum, which addresses common issues of relevance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam in Ireland. Imam Halawa says that, despite credal differences, each of the faiths have "a lot in common".
The centre at Clonskeagh has been visited many times by the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, where he has been thanked repeatedly for the manner in which Muslim children have been welcomed into Catholic-managed primary and secondary schools.
The centre at Clonskeagh has also received visits from former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and from the Minister of State for Integration, Conor Lenihan.
The Muslim community is also party to the Structured Dialogue between the Faiths and State, established by Mr Ahern last year.
Speaking of Government policy and integration, Imam Halawa praised the Government for the way asylum-seekers were dealt with here compared to other countries.
"Elsewhere they were put in camps. Here they got education opportunities," he said.
Asked whether there had been any hostility from Irish people towards his community, he replied: "No. Nothing."
He estimates that currently there are approximately 18 imams in Ireland, but explained that those affiliated to the Irish Council of Imams must be full-time.
The council is "unique internationally", he says. The group was set up in 2006 to speak on relevant issues for the Muslim community in Ireland.
On violent acts carried out in the name of Islam, he maintains: "It has nothing to do with religion." Islam is a religion which encourages peace, he says. Religion preaches "moderation in all aspects of life".
He thus preaches moderation every Friday at the mosque in Clonskeagh, he adds.
He recalls that after September 11th 2001 he was among the first to condemn the assault on the US, and he says there have been no repercussions where Ireland's Muslim community is concerned following those attacks - "not before, during or since".
He adds that if he were to see anyone from among the Muslim community who might pose a threat to Irish society he would be "the first person to face him".
He continues: "We are children of this land. What causes pain to this community causes pain to us. And what pleases this land pleases us."
It is hardly surprising that, being one of the Abrahamic religions - along with Christianity and Judaism - Muslim belief is quite similar in some instances to the mainstream churches.
Imam Halawa explained that they agree with the use of artificial means of contraception "to plan children and protect a woman's health", but they would oppose any sterilisation which was irreversible. Abortion is not allowed except where the mother's life is in danger.
Islam is totally opposed to homosexuality or same-sex marriage, and to sex before marriage, as well as to anything which is seen within the religion as damaging to health, such as alcohol and the abuse of drugs.
Regarding the current situation in the Palestinian territories, he queries the description of Palestinian suicide-bombers as "terrorists". He asks: "What is meant by the word? Are people defending their homes and lands to be classified 'terrorists'? What about being blockaded in without food and water [as in Gaza], isn't that terrorism?
"Give the Palestinians food, water, houses, then judge them. In the current situation you cannot judge them."