Islam. Muslim Americans. and. AANM Educational Series

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1 Islam and Muslim Americans AANM Educational Series

2 This booklet was produced by the Arab American National Museum the only museum among the 17,500 museums in the United States that focuses on the history and contributions of Arab Americans with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. To learn more about the Arab American National Museum, visit For information on the Institute of Museum and Library Services, visit

3 Islam and Muslim Americans What is Islam? Islam is one of the world s three monotheistic religions. Monotheism is the belief in one God. The word Islam is a derivative of the Arabic word Salam, which means peace ; an alternative definition is submission. The word describing a follower of the faith of Islam is Muslim, or one who submits to God. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, with an estimated 1.5 billion Muslims spanning the globe. As the second-largest religion after Christianity, Muslims comprise 20-22% of the world s population. One common misconception is that all Muslims are Arabs. While the Arabic language is the mother tongue of Islam, Arabs are actually a minority in the Islamic World. Approximately 80% of Muslims live outside the 22 nations of the Arab World. Countries with the largest numbers of Muslims are found in southeast Asia, including Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many non- Arab African countries such as Nigeria, Senegal and Mali are mostly Muslim; a sizable percentage of the people of Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are also Muslim. In Europe, Muslims number about 53 million. The majority of the populations of Turkey, Bosnia and Albania are Muslim. In fact, Muslims are present in nearly every nation and ethnic group. In the United States, Islam is the second-largest religion, with an estimated population of over six million. Comprised of many different backgrounds, American Muslims include African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian and Southeast Asian Americans, as well as European Americans. According to a 2002 Zogby

4 4 n Islam and Muslim Americans Man praying at Medina (S.M. Amin/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA)

5 AANM Educational Series n 5 International survey, of the estimated 4.2 million Arab Americans, 24% are Muslim; 63% are Christians; with the remaining 13% belonging to another faith or not practicing any faith. Foundations of Islam Islam is the youngest of the monotheistic faiths, following Judaism and Christianity. Muslims consider their faith to be an extension of Abrahamic traditions, since Islam recognizes all of the biblical prophets found in the Hebrew Scriptures. In Islam, Muhammad is considered to be the last prophet. The Prophet Muhammad was born in the year 570 C.E. in Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia. In 610 C.E., at the age of 40, Muslims believe that Muhammad received revelations through the Archangel Gabriel. These revelations are believed to be the word of God and comprise the Muslim holy book, the Qur an (alternately spelled Qu ran or Koran), which was revealed to Muhammad over the course of 23 years. In 622 C.E., Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to the neighboring city of Medina, also in present-day Saudi Arabia, where the first Muslim community was formed. Mecca and Medina, along with Jerusalem (where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to heaven), are among the holiest sites in Islam. The Qur an The name of Islam s holy book, the Qur an, translates literally as recitation. Although most Muslims are not of Arab descent, the Qur an was originally revealed to Muhammad in Arabic, and accordingly, Muslims across the globe memorize and recite parts of the Qur an in Arabic during their prayers. The Qur an is comprised

6 6 n Islam and Muslim Americans of 114 chapters divided into 30 sections. All but one chapter of the Qur an begin with this verse: In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. In some cultures, the completion of the recitation of the entire Qur an is a rite of passage for children and is marked with a celebration. The Art of Beautiful Writing In the Arab and Islamic Worlds, the calligrapher was the most respected of all artists. Because the angel Gabriel revealed the word of God to the Prophet Muhammad in Arabic, it became the official language for the holy book, the Qur an. So, a scribe copying the Qur an thus performed a pious act and his goal was to make the word of God as beautiful as possible. Different styles of calligraphy developed from the wish to adorn the Qur an. Today, handwritten Qur ans are extremely valuable and found in museums around the world. Basic Beliefs and the Five Pillars of Islam The word Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. In addition, there are 99 attributes or other titles by which Muslims may address God. Among them are The Compassionate, The Merciful, The All Peaceful, The Creator and The Forgiver. Central to the belief system of Muslims is the existence of only one God. Muslims also believe in angels, prophets, books of revelation, a day of judgment and an afterlife.

7 Ka ba (S.M. Amin/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA) AANM Educational Series n 7

8 8 n Islam and Muslim Americans There are five religious requirements that are known as the Pillars of Islam: 1. Declaration of Faith (Shahada): This is the belief in one God and in Muhammad as God s last messenger. If a person wants to become a Muslim, he or she has only to believe in and recite the Shahada - There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his messenger. 2. Prayer (Salat): Observant Muslims pray five times a day at various hours. Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and finally, nightfall. Before praying, Muslims perform a ritual ablution or personal cleansing called Wudu. Prayers may be performed individually or collectively. Muslims can pray at home, at their place of work or at school; they do not need to be in a mosque. There is an oral call to prayer known as the Athan that acts as a public invitation to pray, typically performed by a member of a mosque. Every Friday, devout Muslims gather for a congregational midday prayer known as Salat-al-Juma. 3. Fasting (Soum): Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic (lunar) calendar. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation from God during Ramadan. During this period of fasting, reflection and prayer, Muslims attempt to rectify their misdeeds through devotional acts. During Ramadan, all Muslim adults are expected to fast by abstaining from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. Exceptions are made for pregnant or nursing women, the sick, the elderly, children and travelers. In these circumstances, people must make up missed days at a later time of the year. If this is not possible, as is the case with an elder or a chronically ill person, then he or she, if financially capable, must feed a single needy person for every missed fasting day. Through fasting, Muslims come to understand and empathize with people who are less fortunate, while also experiencing self-restraint. The ritual of breaking the fast is usually shared with members of the extended family as well as neighbors and friends. This ritual is

9 AANM Educational Series n 9 considered an important communal aspect of Ramadan. During the month, many visit the mosque to perform extra prayers and recitations of the Qur an. The last day of Ramadan is known as Waqaf, when Muslims prepare for Eid al-fitr festivities to mark the end of this month. 4. Charity (Zakat): The act of alms-giving in Islam is called Zakat. It is mandatory for Muslims to give annually to charity. Traditionally, Muslims give their Zakat during the month of Ramadan. While all Muslims are supposed to give according to their financial capabilities, some Muslim scholars specify the amount to be 2.5% of an individual s overall wealth, while other interpretations specify giving 2.5% of one s annual income. If one cannot afford to give, he or she then may follow the Prophet s advice that even a smile is charity. If someone gives more than the mandatory amount of Zakat, it is known as Sadaka. 5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): This pillar of Islam requires Muslims who are physically and financially capable, to perform the Hajj once in their lifetime. This annual ritual takes place during Thul Hijja, the last month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. Today, with improvements in transportation and standards of living, an estimated three million pilgrims arrive in Mecca each year from around the world. During the Hajj, all pilgrims wear simple white garments intended to erase distinctions of wealth and create a feeling of equality in front of God. One of the special rituals of the Hajj is the circling of the Ka ba, an act known as tawaf. Muslims believe that the Ka ba is the first house of worship, built by Adam and later rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael. Whenever they pray, Muslims position themselves facing in the direction of the holy city of Mecca.

10 10 n Islam and Muslim Americans Islam and the Lunar Calendar Ramadan, the Hajj and all Muslim holidays occur according to the lunar calendar, which has 354 days, 11 days fewer than the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world. While the Gregorian calendar has 12 months and is based on the 365-day rotation of the earth around the sun, the lunar calendar also has 12 months, each starting with the new moon and having 29 or 30 days. Muslim holidays always fall on the same date on the lunar calendar, but fall 11 days earlier than the previous year on the Gregorian calendar. For example, if Ramadan began on August 15 in 2009, it will begin on August 4 in For that reason, daytime fasting takes less time if Ramadan comes in winter and many more hours if it comes in the summer. Important Muslim Celebrations and Commemorations Throughout the year, there are many religious holidays that are important to Muslims worldwide. The most celebrated holidays are related to the two pillars of Islam Soum or fasting and the Hajj or pilgrimage. Eid al-fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-adha marks the end of the Hajj. These two holidays are as important to Muslims as Christmas and Easter are to Christians. Other important religious dates are the birth and death of the Prophet Muhammad and Ashura the memorial of the Prophet s grandson Hussein, who was killed in the city of Karbala, Iraq which is remembered by many Shi a Muslims during the first 10 days of the Islamic month of Muharam.

11 Medina, Saudi Arabia (S.M. Amin/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA) AANM Educational Series n 11

12 12 n Islam and Muslim Americans Eid al-fitr denotes the end of Ramadan and the end of fasting for Muslims. Eid al-fitr (fitr means breaking the fast) is a three-day celebration. This holiday is also called Eid Al Sageer or the small holiday. Many Muslims attend Eid prayers at the mosque and greet each other by saying Eid Mabrook (blessed holiday) or Kul sana wa inta salem (may you be safe this year and every year.) The ways in which people celebrate these holidays vary according to culture and tradition. However, most celebrations include gift-giving and family visits or other communal activities. Eid al-adha or Eid Al kebber (the big holiday) is celebrated for four days starting on the tenth of the Islamic month of Thul Hijja, to commemorate the conclusion of the Hajj. Eid al-adha means festival of sacrifice and refers to the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, because God willed it. Upon Abraham s acceptance of God s command, God replaced Ishmael with an animal to be sacrificed instead. Muslims celebrate this holiday in a variety of ways. Many start by attending Eid prayers at a mosque, then gathering afterward to celebrate. The events of Ashura occur on the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Many Muslims consider this to be a mournful time as they commemorate the death of Hussein (the grandson of the Prophet) and his companions. Ashura is derived from the Arabic word Ashra, which means ten. Many Shi a Muslims go during these days to the mosque to recount the events of Ashura in honor of the tragedy. Muslim Sects Islam has two main branches or sects: Sunni and Shi a (pronounced SHE-ah). Roughly 85% of the world s Muslims are Sunni and 15% are Shi a. The schism between these two groups developed shortly after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in the late 7th century,

13 AANM Educational Series n 13 following disagreements over the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community. Upon the death of Muhammad, one group of Muslims (who became known as the Sunni) selected Abu Bakr the Prophet s close friend and one of the first Muslims as Muhammad s successor, and made him the first Muslim caliph (leader). This caused conflict with Muslims who believed that Ali ibn Abi Talib the Prophet s cousin and son-in-law should have been selected as the new leader. In fact, Shi a Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad had specifically appointed Ali to lead the faithful after his death. The majority of Shi a can be found in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. Although they have their own mosques and ceremonial traditions, Sunni and Shi a both adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam and have far more commonalities than differences. In addition to these two major divisions, there are many smaller Muslim sects, often reflecting specific local cultures. One of the least understood branches of Islam is the Druze. The Druze trace their origins back to Cairo, Egypt, where they began as an Islamic reform movement in the 11 th century. Along with the Qur an, or Muslim holy book, the Druze have a collection of about 30 other manuscripts that outline specific Druze commandments and moral obligations. Today there are over one million members of the Druze community, the majority of them in Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Sufism is a smaller but significant set of traditions within the Islamic faith. Not strictly a denomination, Sufism is a mystical-ascetic form of Islam. By focusing on the more spiritual aspects of religion, Sufis strive to obtain direct experience of God by making use of intuitive and emotional faculties that one must be trained to use.

14 14 n Islam and Muslim Americans Al-Aqsa Mosque (William Tracy/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA)

15 AANM Educational Series n 15 Sacred Geography For Muslims, Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are sacred cities, central to the origins of the faith. The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca and died in Medina. Jerusalem is home to the Dome of the Rock, built in the 7 th century. It is located on the site where Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Before Muslims began praying in the direction of Mecca, where the Ka ba is located, they prayed facing Jerusalem. Jerusalem is also the home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque are located on large grounds known as Haram as-sharef, considered by some Muslims as the third holiest site after Mecca and Medina. For many Shi a Muslims, the shrine of the Prophet s grandson Hussein in Karbala, Iraq is considered sacred. Many Muslims make it a point to travel to all of these locations because of their historical and religious significance. Practicing Islam Like Christians and people of other faiths, some Muslims are more devout than others. Some strictly follow the Five Pillars of Islam and practice their religion on a daily basis. Others might practice one or two components of the faith but not all. They might celebrate the holidays but forego fasting; fast and not pray; or pray only on Fridays or on major holidays. For some, Islam is more of a cultural identity. There are many secular Muslims who might limit their religious participation to major holidays. This diversity in practice can be found within each Muslim ethnic group, within individual families or even within a single household. For example, it is not unusual to find a husband who fasts during Ramadan while his wife does not, or a pair of sisters, only one of whom wears the modest style of Islamic dress and head covering called the hijab.

16 16 n Islam and Muslim Americans Islamic Arts When speaking about Islamic art, it is important to consider that the term does not necessary refer to art based on religion, but rather based on culture. For example, Islamic art not only includes mosque decorations, but also objects of everyday life such as garments, ceramics, glass and metalwork, which could be found in mosques, palaces, homes and urban centers. Islamic art also refers to Islamic architecture, considered one of the most beautiful styles in history. Among the most famous Islamic monuments are the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, which dates from the 7 th century; the Alhambra Palace in Cordoba, Spain from the 14 th century; and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, built in the17 th century. Islam forbids the creation of images containing people, especially prophets and leaders, in order to discourage the worship or idealization of human beings, since only God can be worshipped. Because of this limitation, other forms of Islamic art flourished, such as calligraphy, geometric designs and tile painting. However, frescoes and sculptures including figural representations are often found decorating the palaces of Islamic rulers. There is hardly a reputable museum in the world that does not have Islamic arts collection including Qur an manuscripts. These collections, assembled from around the world, reflect the deep diversity of Islamic art. Included in these museum collections are large rooms with their mosaic floors, carved wooden walls and central fountains imported intact. U.S. museums that have large Islamic arts collections include: Art Institute of Chicago Asian Art Museum San Francisco Brooklyn Museum of Art Cleveland Museum of Art Detroit Institute of Arts

17 AANM Educational Series n 17 Freer Gallery of Art/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Washington, D.C. Honolulu Academy of Arts Indianapolis Museum of Art Los Angeles County Museum of Art Museum of Fine Arts Boston Metropolitan Museum of Art New York Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Kansas City San Diego Museum of Art Walters Art Museum Baltimore Muslim Americans We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth... - excerpt from President Barack Obama s 2009 inaugural address Muslim Americans are estimated to number more than six million and are one of the fastest-growing religious groups in the U.S. They have been a part of American society since its inception. While Muslim Americans share the same faith, they are as diverse as America itself. This diversity is reflected in their time of immigration, country of origin, ethnicity, cultural heritage and theological perspective and practice. While we do not know the exact date when the first Muslim arrived in the United States, it is believed that Zammouri, a slave from Morocco also known as Estebanico, landed in the Gulf of Mexico around 1528 C.E. The many others who followed also came as slaves from various African countries, including some of the

18 18 n Islam and Muslim Americans Muslim African woman in hijab (Ilene Perlman/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA)

19 AANM Educational Series n 19 northern African Arabic-speaking countries. Some Muslims came to the U.S. to participate in the World s Fairs of the 19 th and early 20 th centuries and ended up staying on, while others came during the Great Migration of Some Muslim Americans, however, are more recent immigrants. They arrived starting in the early 1970s due to the lifting of some restrictions in American immigration law. Like all immigrants, they came to the U.S. seeking better lives for themselves and their families. Muslim African Americans According to some estimates, between the 1600s and the mid- 1800s, 30% of African American slaves were Muslim and many spoke Arabic. While the majority of them adopted Christianity, they continued to integrate their Islamic African religious traditions into their lives including styles of dress and musical forms. Education and Socio-economic Status Like Christian Americans, Muslim Americans are also a diverse group of people in terms of their education, range of professions and levels of economic success. Muslims Americans are found in every stratum of American society, from unskilled laborers to highly trained professionals. Many recent immigrants who come from various Arab, African and Asian countries are doctors, engineers, scientists and educators. Some own and work in family businesses such as hotels, restaurants or grocery stores while others are factory workers or migrant farmers in the valleys of California. Some Muslim women are working mothers while others stay home and care for their families. Muslim women whether recent immigrants or third- and fourth-generation Americans are found on every

20 20 n Islam and Muslim Americans university campus in America, as both students and educators. In addition, Muslim women are found in most every profession business administration, teaching, law, medicine and engineering. Muslim women have even worked on U.S. auto assembly lines dating back to the 1940s. Cultural Diversity Religion is one element of an individual s identity. A person s culture embodies a much more complex set of norms and traditions involving community relationships, food, dress, work ethic, dance, music and more. Because Muslim Americans come from various ethnic and national backgrounds, they have a variety of cultures. For example, a Muslim Chinese American will likely have much more in common with a Christian Chinese American than he might have with a Muslim from Iran. The same applies for Christians a Christian Arab American might have much more in common with a Muslim Arab American that he might have with a Christian from China. Oftentimes, being a citizen of a country, working in a profession, or residing in a certain city or a neighborhood is an important element of personal identity. For example, a Muslim woman doctor who lives in a Los Angeles suburb will have much more in common with her Christian or Jewish colleagues who live in the same neighborhood and send their kids to the same school than she might with an uneducated Muslim woman living in a small town. Organizations and Mosques When Muslims first began arriving in America, practicing their religion was rather difficult. They did not have places of worship; for the most part, they practiced their religion in the privacy of their homes. The first mosque in America was built in 1915 by Albanian

21 AANM Educational Series n 21 Muslims in Maine. Another mosque was built by Arab Americans, mostly Lebanese, in 1923 in Highland Park, Michigan and in 1926, a Polish-language mosque was built by Tatars in Brooklyn, New York. In 1952, the Federation of Islamic Associations in America was founded by 25 mosques. Some of these mosques were also called Islamic centers; they functioned as a community center, with one part for prayers and the other for gatherings and celebrations. Many more mosques were built as time progressed. Today, it is estimated that there are more than 1,200 mosques in the U.S. Mosques can be found in each of the 50 states; most large American cities have several. Historically, Muslim holidays were rarely mentioned by the media or noticed by the general public, which is not the case today. However, many Muslim Americans still have to go school and work on their most important holidays. Muslim Arab Americans Zammouri may have been the first slave to come to America from an Arab country, but he was not the last. Arabs from North Africa were among the 12 to 15 million slaves who came over the next 400 years, many of whom ended up in Georgia and the Carolinas. Today, there are many Americans who have Arab slaves as their ancestors. Because slaves were usually given new names upon arriving in America, those Arab Americans are unable to trace their lineage to their original families or hometowns. Although it is hard to estimate the number of slaves who came from current Arab countries such as Algeria or Morocco, some records refer to the arrival of Arabic-speaking Muslim slaves who would not eat pork in Ben Ali is among the few well-documented slaves. He was a prisoner on a French vessel who jumped ship in America. Later, he was a scout for the famous General Thomas Sumter during the Revolutionary War. Ben Ali changed his family name to Benenhaly. His sons later fought with the Confederate Army.

22 22 n Islam and Muslim Americans Hajj pilgrim (S.M. Amin/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA)

23 AANM Educational Series n 23 Omar Ibn Said was another Arabic-speaking slave. He had been trained in Qur anic Arabic in his native land. John Owen, an early governor of North Carolina, decided to free Said on account of his apparent education. Said was later buried in the Owen family plot. During the late 1700s, the South Carolina House of Representatives ruled that Moroccan Arabs living in the state should be treated according to the laws governing whites. This acknowledgement of Moroccan Arabs in legal documents attests not only to the number of Moroccan Arabs in the South at the time, but also to the discriminatory nature of the laws, which granted privileges to those classified as white. The first significant number of Muslim Arabs came to the U.S. during the Great Migration of Their numbers were relatively small, estimated at just 5-10% of the number of Christian Arab immigrants. The majority of these Muslim immigrants came from rural areas in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine with limited formal education. Like many other immigrants, most of them were single men hoping to make some money and return to their country of origin. Making money was not as easy as they had hoped; many end up settling in the U.S. Some went to their country of origin, got married and came back with their wives; other members of their families followed. The few Muslim Arab immigrants who arrived in the United States during the Great Migration were Sunni, Shi a and Druze. They worked in a variety of trades as peddlers and assembly line workers; in the lumber, mining and shipping industries; and in transportation, building both roads and railroads. Some even homesteaded in South Dakota. The largest Muslim Arab community in the early 1900s was found in Chicago.

24 24 n Islam and Muslim Americans Because of their small number and scattered locations around the country, it was very difficult for Muslim Arab immigrants to establish their places of worship. This was not the case for Christian Arab Americans, who were larger in number and were able temporarily attend established churches of other ethnic groups until they could build their own. Muslim Arab Americans often practiced their religion at home or at the home of an elder who lead the Friday and holiday prayers. The Arab mosque opened in 1923 in Highland Park, Michigan survived for only four years as the community moved to Dearborn, Michigan for well-paying jobs following the opening of Ford Motor Company s new Rouge Plant. In 1925, an Arab mosque was built in Michigan City, Indiana that is still in use today. Another Arab mosque and community center was established in 1934 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; this one was rebuilt in Today, there are hundreds of Arab mosques in the U.S.; they are found in almost every major U.S. city. Between World War I ( ) and World War II ( ), restrictive immigration laws allowed only a few Arab immigrants, Muslim or Christian, into the U.S. That situation changed immediately after World War II, when the U.S. was aggressively recruiting highly educated people such as physicians, engineers and scientists regardless of their religion or national background in order to enhance its status as an emerging technological superpower. The U.S. also opened the door for a larger number of foreign university students; many of them came with the intention of returning to their home countries after graduation, but ended up staying for employment opportunities. This wave of Arab immigration, which extended into the 1960s, was different from the Great Migration of because it included a larger number of Muslims from various countries. In addition to Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, they also came from urban middle-class backgrounds in Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. This highly educated and professional group of Christian and Muslim Arabs built their new lives in suburban America.

25 AANM Educational Series n 25 The most recent wave of Arab immigrants, who began arriving here in the early 1970s, included a larger number of Muslims who came mostly from war-devastated countries like Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. This wave of immigrants also included small numbers of Muslims from the African/Arab countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan and Somalia. Today, largest Muslim Arab communities are found in major metropolitan areas including Detroit, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

26 26 n Islam and Muslim Americans Conclusion Islam is one of the three Abrahamic religions, and shares many values and beliefs with Christianity and Judaism. Its history dates back to 610 C.E., when the Prophet Muhammad started to receive revelations from God (Allah in Arabic). Muslims believe in many prophets including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The holy book of Muslims is the Qur an, which is similar to the other holy books, the Torah and the Bible. Muslims everywhere consider the cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem to be sacred sites. The world s Muslim population is an estimated 1.5 billion who live in almost every nation; and they comprise the majority population of more than 50 nations. In the U.S., the number of Muslim Americans exceeds six million and they are the second-largest religious group after Christianity. Both worldwide and in the U.S., Muslims are also among the fastest-growing populations. Although Muslims have been part of our nation since its inception and there is hardly a reputable museum in our nation that does not have an Islamic arts collection, the general public knows very little about Islam or Muslim Americans. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, many Muslims Americans were treated with suspicion and their civil rights were violated. In the meantime, there has been an increased interest in learning about this important and vibrant segment of American society.

27 AANM Educational Series n 27 Questions About Islam 1. What is Islam? Islam is the youngest of the three Abrahamic religions, which include Christianity and Judaism. Its followers are called Muslims. It estimated that there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, with representation in nearly every country on the globe. 2. What does Allah mean? Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Muslims worship the same One God as do Jews and Christians. 3. What does Muslim mean? Muslim means one who submits. In Islam, it means the person who submits to God. It is the name given to the followers of the faith of Islam. 4. Does Islam have dietary restrictions? Yes. Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol, pork, blood and any animal that has been found dead. In addition, animals must be slaughtered in a quick merciful way known as halal, which is similar to the Jewish concept of kosher.

28 28 n Islam and Muslim Americans 5. Do Muslims believe in Jesus? Yes. Muslims believe that Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, that he is a prophet and messenger and performed miracles. Jesus title in Islam is Rooh Allah, which means the Spirit of God. 6. What is Jihad? Jihad is the Arabic world for struggle. It means to struggle or strive to be a better person. It often refers to the internal struggles and challenges humans endure in facing their limitations as they pursue God s intended way of life on Earth. The struggle for justice is part of Jihad. 7. How does Islam view Judaism and Christianity? Islam acknowledges both Judaism and Christianity in the Qur an. Islam gives the title People of the Book to both Jews and Christians. Jesus is mentioned 25 times in the Qur an; Moses is mentioned 136 times. Chapter 2, verse 62 in the Qur an states: Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them nor shall they grieve. 8. Is Islam mostly an Arab religion? No, it is quite the contrary. Although the majority of Arabs are Muslim, the majority of Muslims are not Arab. Only about 20-22% of the Muslim population worldwide is Arab. There are more Muslims in Indonesia, for example, than in all the Arab countries combined. Large populations of Muslims reside

29 AANM Educational Series n 29 in Iran, India and other parts of southeastern Asia, and in sub- Saharan Africa. In the United States, Islam is the fastest-growing religion. Also, Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with over 1.5 billion followers. 9. Do women have rights in Islam? Yes. Muslim women have the right to earn their own income and keep their own money. They have the right to a marriage contract (similar to a prenuptial agreement), a dowry and divorce. They have the right to own property and to maintain their maiden name. In addition, Muslim women have the right to obtain an education. The status of Muslim women, as is the case of Christian women, varies from one country to another and the gap is very wide. Some Muslim countries have elected female presidents and legislators, while in other countries Muslim women are denied the most basic rights. This is mostly due to culture rather than religion, as well as conservative interpretation of the Qur an. 10. Why do some Muslim women wear head scarves while others do not? Wearing the head scarf is a religious practice observed by some Muslim women. Both Muslim men and women are expected to dress modestly. For many Muslim women Hijab refers to covering their hair and allowing only the face and hands to show. Wearing the Hijab is not universal among Muslim women; it varies from one culture to another, among people in the same neighborhood or even within a single family. Some Muslims believe that women are required to wear the Hijab, while others do not. This is the result of different interpretation of the Qur an.

30 30 n Islam and Muslim Americans 11. What does Islam have in common with Christianity? Both Muslims and Christians believe in the miraculous birth of Jesus and his administration of miracles. The Virgin Mary is the only woman with a chapter named after her in the Qur an and is mentioned several times: O Mary! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the world [3:41]. Muslims also acknowledge the same biblical prophets: Say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit. [3.84]. 12. Is Islam a violent religion? The word Islam translates as peace. The Qur an states: For he who takes a life, it is like killing all of humanity, and for he who saves a life, it is like saving all of humanity [5:32]. Oftentimes in history, people commit violent acts in the name of religion. This happens with all religions; Islam is no exception in this regard.

31 Hajj pilgrims (S.M. Amin/Saudi Aramco World/SAWDIA AANM Educational Series n 31

32 32 n Islam and Muslim Americans Key Terms Athan oral call to prayer Allah the word meaning God in Arabic. Druze a small branch of Islam that developed in the 11 th century. The largest Druze community in the Arab World can be found in Lebanon. Hadith the sayings and acts of the prophet Muhammad. Hajj the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad; is also one of the Pillars of Islam, but only to those who are physically and financially capable. Imam a Muslim religious leader. Imams lead the congregational prayers at noon on Fridays. Qur an the holy book for Muslims. Its original language is Arabic. Ramadan the ninth lunar month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. This holiday is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Salat al-juma Friday congressional prayer. Salah/Salat is the Arabic word for prayer. Pious Muslims pray five times a day. Shahada this is the basic declaration of faith for Muslims which says, There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his messenger. This is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Shari a the code of Islamic law, which derives from scholars interpretations of the Qur an and Hadith. Shi a a branch of Islam. The Shi a have a significant following in Lebanon and southern Iraq. In the Middle Eastern (but non- Arab) country of Iran, they are the majority. Sunni a branch of Islam. The majority of Muslims worldwide are Sunni. Wudu a ritual washing Muslims perform before prayer.

33 AANM Educational Series n 33 Timeline Muslims in America s Roughly 10 million Africans were brought as slaves to North America, 30% of whom are Muslim Peter Salem, a former slave, fights during the American Revolution and the Battle of Bunker Hill An African slave, Yarrow Mamout, is set free. He becomes one of the first shareholders of the second chartered bank in America, the Columbia Bank The former prince of Timbuktu-turned-slave Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori is freed by the order of U.S. Secretary of State Henry Clay and President John Quincy Adams The United States Cavalry brings from Syria a Muslim Arab by the name of Hajji Ali to raise camels in Arizona for military service Albanian Muslims open the first-ever U.S. mosque, in Maine The first Arab American mosque is founded, in Highland Park, Michigan In Brooklyn, New York, a Polish-language mosque is established by Tatars In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the first purpose-built mosque is constructed. It is known as the Mother Mosque of North America and is still in existence today.

34 34 n Islam and Muslim Americans 1963 The Muslim Students Association (MSA) is established. Today, MSAs can be found on almost every American university campus Charles Bilal of Kountze, Texas becomes the first Muslim mayor in America Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad is appointed the U.S. Army s first Muslim chaplain The first White House celebration of Eid al-fitr is observed U.S. State Department hosted its first iftar (breaking of the fast) dinner during Ramadan A 34-cent Eid stamp is issued by the U.S. Postal Service Keith Ellison becomes the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress as a member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota.

35 Sources for Further Study What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, by John Esposito, Oxford University Press, 2002 Women and Gender in Islam, by Leila Ahmed, Yale University Press, 1993 Islam and Human Rights: Advancing a U.S.-Muslim Dialogue by Shireen Hunter and Huma Malik, editors; Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2005 Internet Resources Oxford Islamic Studies Online: The Essential Reference for Islamic Studies: The Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding: One Nation: Public Broadcasting Service programs: Islam: Empire of Faith: eduk12plan.html and Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet:

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