Islam and Social Work ─ Culturally sensitive practice in a diverse world

Social services have typically addressed equality and diversity issues through the lens of race and ethnicity, while the faith identities of minority ethnic communities have been largely bypassed. But in our contemporary world, there is a strong need for policies and services that are sensitive to faith in general and to Islam in particular. This unique book enables social work practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of how Islamic principles inform and influence the lives of Muslim populations. Designed to support work with families and faith communities, it examines religious precepts, cosmologies, philosophies, and daily practices, while acknowledging cultural variants and population heterogeneity. The second edition includes a comprehensive update of the research literature; detailed description and explanation of contemporary social work practice with Muslim service users, using an updated and expanded collection of international case studies; and new sections on religious extremism, aging, and end-of-life care. The only book specifically addressing social work with Muslim communities, Islam and Social Work provides an essential toolkit for culturally sensitive social work practice.

Sara Ashencaen Crabtree is professor of social and cultural diversity in the Centre for Social Work, Sociology & Social Policy at Bournemouth University. Fatima Husain is research director of children, families, and work at NatCen Social Research, UK. Basia Spalek is professor of conflict transformation in the College of Health and Social Care at the University of Derby. She is the author of Communities, Identities and Crime and coeditor of Religion, Spirituality and the Social Sciences: Challenging Marginalisation, both published by Policy Press.