Many faith groups in the UK - most notably Muslims - have in recent years challenged the idea that religion should be predominantly a matter for the private domain. In response to this challenge, the 2001 National Census included the question of religious affiliation. Using the large-scale data of the 2001 National Census, "Muslims on the Map" has created the first long awaited community profile which looks at Muslims as an entire faith community from a sociological and social policy perspective. In her analysis, Serena Hussain reveals the social position of Muslims as a group compared to other faith communities in terms of educational qualifications, economic activity and housing conditions and as demonstrated by other poverty indicators. In doing so, she provides the first significant, comprehensive portrait of Muslim communities in modern Britain.

Serena Hussain completed her PhD at the University of Bristol and is currently working on a project exploring migration and ethnic geographies at the Univesity of Leeds. Though her principle expertise is in Muslims in Britain, she has also worked on community tolerance, young people and unemployment, asylum seekers and 'hidden' ethnic communities.