Reconstructing identity: A study of new Muslims in São Paulo, Brazil

This paper will address questions of identity that male Muslim converts in São Paulo, Brazil face after adopting Islam. Specifically, it will analyze how they place their religion into notions of what it means to be Brazilian. Furthermore, this paper will show how many of these converts use Islam as a way to reconstruct their personal identities. Finally, it will argue that by becoming Muslims, they embrace a transnational religious identity. This paper will seek to show how conversion to Islam in São Paulo can significantly influence how individuals articulate notions of Brazilian national identity and belonging to the nation.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Latin American Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Shahid, Hasan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tosta, Luciano
• Rana, Junaid

• Brazil
• Muslims
• Islam
• Religion
• Identity
• Converts
• Brazilian muslims
• Conversion
• Religious conversion
• Reverts
• São Paulo

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Hasan Shahid

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16975

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16975