Respectable Muslims : Morals and Manners of Minority Citizens in France

Across Europe, many Muslims seek to gain respect through exemplary behavior. This book draws parallels with other minority citizens to examine this under-researched path of action. It unravels the politics of respectability of French Muslim leaders, shedding light on class and ethics in quiet minority politics.

How do Muslims deal with the ever-increasing pressure to assimilate into European societies? Respectable Muslims tells the story of pious citizens who struggle for fair treatment and dignity through good manners and social upliftment. Based on an ethnographic inquiry into France''s most prominent Muslim organization, the Union des organisations islamiques de France, the book shows how a non-confrontational approach underpins the fast-expanding Islamic revival movement in Europe. This method is mapped into Islamic notions of proper conduct, such as ihsan (excellence) or ?abr (patience). These practices of exemplariness also reflect the often-overlooked class divisions separating Muslim communities, with middle-class leaders seeking to curb the so-called ''conspicuous'' practices of lower-class worshippers. Chapters demonstrate that the insistence on good behavior comes with costs, both individually and collectively. Respectable Muslims expands on the concept of respectability politics to engage in a trans-Atlantic conversation on the role of class and morals in minority politics.