New research suggests that global conflicts and a sense of growing injustice are driving more Britons to embrace Islam — reinforcing recent claims that the war in Gaza has prompted a rise in conversions.

A study by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), based on a unique survey of 2,774 adults who reported experiencing a change in religious belief, found that global conflict (20%) was the key turning point in their faith journey for adopting Islam.

“This pattern may support media reports throughout late 2023 and 2024 identifying a visible increase in conversions to Islam following the most recent Israel-Gaza war,” said the report.

“The high proportion of younger converts who describe the world as “increasingly unfair” and express media scepticism may further corroborate a more morality and justice centred turn toward Islam.”

The study found that 59% of those who became Muslim entered from another faith, most commonly Christianity. It indicates that growth in Islam in the UK is driven by people crossing religious boundaries, rather than shifting between denominations within a religion.

By contrast, 73% of those who became Christian were already Christian, with bereavement (31%) and mental health struggles (23%) being the primary triggers for their conversion.

Importance of rules and rituals

Christianity also saw the largest outflow, with 44% of respondents leaving the faith — typically moving into no faith rather than another religion. Overall, the biggest single shift recorded in the survey was away from organised religion entirely.

The research highlights that Muslim converts are two-and-a-half times more likely than Christian converts to say that rituals played a role in their decision (27% vs. 11%), suggesting that structured, embodied religious practices are a major draw.

“Islam shows a modest but clear net gain, driven mostly by conversions from other faiths, most frequently Christianity, and with almost no exits to other faiths. Its appeal lies in its sense of purpose, moral clarity, and ritual discipline,” said the report.  

But the study also found that emotional well-being outcomes for Muslim converts are lower than for Christian converts.

Researchers suggest this may stem from the greater social and familial barriers faced by those who become Muslim, reflecting wider racial, ethnic, and religious tensions surrounding Islam in the UK.