The Islamic empire at one time stretched into modern-day Europe, particularly in Spain and the Balkans. Today, many European countries have sizable Muslim populations, with numbers increasing each year through immigration and conversion. European Muslims originate from a variety of places, and some have lived on the continent for centuries.

In France, Muslim immigrants have largely come from former North African colonies such as Morocco and Algeria. In Germany, immigrants from Turkey are more common. In Britain, most Muslim immigrants come from the Indian subcontinent and have formed permanent neighborhoods. Most minority Muslim communities in Europe are made up of a diverse mix of first-and second-generation immigrants, as well as native converts. While many Muslims easily integrate into European life, some countries have faced cultural and legal challenges from their Muslim citizens and residents.