The Role of Imams in Family Counselling with Muslim Families in Norway

What is it about?

This article offers an analysis of the role of Muslim imams in family counseling in Norway based on a survey (N=35) and in-depth interviews (N=10) among imams. There is little prior knowledge about these issues. We find that family counseling is an important part of the work that imams do. There is a high degree of awareness among the imams about their possible role as counselors, but they are also wary of high expectations on part of clients and they stress the limitations of their own authority. One of the important issues the imams face in counseling has to do with the challenging role of Muslim husbands and the expectations husbands are sometimes faced with.

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