EvolutIon of Islam InamErIca

Transcription

1 Islam Evolution of inamerica

2 Published by: Masha Books Copyright Masha Books All rights are reserved and unauthorized production in any manner is prohibited First Printed in India: 2018 Project Designer: Masha Books Project Author: Jason Luke Starr

3 Introduction Everyone knows the famous story about Christopher Columbus and his voyage to India was one meant to find a new trade route. We also know that he did this because he wanted to capitalize on the spice trade between Europe and Asia. This however ended up with him discovering a new land that many years later came to be known as the land of freedom and opportunity. But what many don t know is that the continent of America was visited, not by the Italians but by another civilization many years ago. While the rest of the world was busy getting its footing, understanding the world around them; another civilization had established themselves in many parts of the known world. For a long period of time the Muslim civilization spread to most of the world and became the most advanced civilization of the time. They invented and introduced concepts and ideas that are still in use today as well as travelled to many parts of the world, spreading their knowledge and religion wherever they went. So much so that when the civilization came to a decline, many countries and its people still continued Muslim practices, particularly the practice of Islam as a religion. While the Muslim civilization came to a close, another civilization was taking centre stage. At this time, many from European countries made the migration to America, in the hopes of starting a new life and becoming rich. They brought with them their hopes, dreams, ideas, thoughts, views and their religions. While many of the early Americans were either Christians or Protestants, there was also a small group of people that practiced Islam in secret. This book will attempt to chronicle the growth of Islam, from when it first landed on the shores of the newly founded continent to what it has become now, gaining prominence due to certain famous members that it influenced along the way.

4 Contents 8 16 Initial Stages Muslims in Civil war

5 Modern Muslims Today s Muslims Celebrities who converted to Islam

6 Initial Stages For many years, Islam was a religion that remained primarily in countries such as Egypt, Persia, Turkey etc. It did spread to the west, but was limited only to Cordoba in Spain but it did not spread to the newly discovered continent of North America for many years. So the question remains, how did it start? 1178 CE While many have attributed Columbus with the discovery of North America, truth was, the Muslim world already knew about the continent. This is backed up by the Sung Document which records a number of Muslims sailors who traveled to a land called Mu-Lan-Pi (otherwise known as the American continent). The document is also mentioned in a publication called The Khotan Amirs The journey took place in 1178 CE, many years before the famous Zheng he traveled the seas. Zheng He was a famous Chinese explorer, fleet admiral and marine from the Ming Dynasty 1300 CE After this incident, Abu Bakri or Abu Bakr II who ruled Mali in West Africa started a series of sea voyages to North American in the early 1300s. It was during this time that Mandingo Muslims from Mali and other parts of West Africa were said to have arrived in the Gulf of Mexico then travel up the Mississippi river to explore the interior portion of the newly discovered continent. Artistic rendition of Abu Bakr II 6

7 It was between the 1300s and our next milestone that Columbus made his legendary discovery. After this a great many people from the east migrated to the new continent. Along with them came the slaves they had in their employ to help build and construct towns and cities for the settlers. First World Map drawn by Piri Reis (right) Piri Reis, a famous navigator and cartographer (bottom right) 1513 CE Piri Reis finishes the first world map. Through the research and information gained from other maps, Piri Reis also includes America on the map. The artistry of the map is greater than any that came before it and is well received by all. 7

8 1530 CE During the following three centuries of slave trade, more than 10 million Africans were torn from their homes and brought to the shores of Cuba, Mexico and North America. Most of the slaves came from West Africa and were known as Fulas, Fula Jallon, Fula Toro and Massina. Many Slave Trade researchers believe that at least percent of these slaves were Muslims but were prevented from practicing religion. There are historical records, indicating that many enslaved Muslims converted in Arabic and some even composed literature and commentaries on the Quran. Slaves being transported by ships were tightly packed Shipping slaves 8

9 As time rolled on, some Muslim slaves were given a private playing area by their owner. Ayuba Suleiman Diallo was one notable slave that regularly dealt with opposition when attempting to perform his religious rituals. It was through sheer persistence alone that his master eventually did allot a private location for prayer. Ayba Suleiman Diallo was a famous American Muslim and victim of the Atlastin slave trade. His memories are published as one of the earliest first person account of the slave trade. 9

10 1539 CE Among the many slaves, there was one man, known in the records as Estevanico Mustafa Zemmouri but we ll call him Estevanico. He was one of the first documented native African man to reach the United States. Estevanico was enslaved as a youth by the Portuguese and served with Panfilo de Narvaez in 1527 on his expedition ship. The ship would sink, due to unfavourable weather conditions. ship used by Panfilo de Navarez Most of the crew on the ship died at sea He was among four other survivors who landed in what is now called Galveston Texas and would later travel Southwest America before reaching Mexico City. Historical records from the 1700s would reveal that the Spanish Moors that lived in South Carolina were mostly composed of people expelled from their homeland. 10

11 Another account of a possible Muslim immigrant was an Egyptian by the name of Norsereddin. The account comes from Dutch settlers of the Catskill Mountains and they talk about how Norsereddin settled in the vicinity of the Catskill mountain house, where he befriended the local indigenous American chief, Shandaken. Islam was not very prevalent at the time and most Muslims would pray in secret. There were a few Muslims that participated in the American Revolution, with some of their names being listed in public records. These names are Yusuf ben Ali, Bampett Muhammed and possible even Peter Salem. Peter Salem was one of the freed slaves that served in the American Revolutionary War and the Continental Army 11

12 1790 CE In 1790 the South Carolina Legislative body gave special legal status to a community of Moroccans 1797 CE In 1797 President John Adams, contributed to the growth of Islam in America when he signed the Treaty of Tripoli. This document clearly declared that the United States had no enmity against the laws, religion or tranquillity of Mussulmen. Thomas Jefferson was known for defending the religious freedom in America including those of Muslims during the religious freedom movement in Virginia. He expressly wrote in his autobiography When the Virginia bill for establishing religious freedom... was finally passed... a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. When the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion an amendment was proposed by inserted the word Jesus Christ, so that it should read a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion. When he became President, Jefferson improved relations with the Ambassador of Tunis, by having dinner with him. 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson 12

13 1807 CE Later, Omar Ibn Said was brought to Charleston South Carolina in 1807 as a slave. He would eventually run away as he could not bear being a slave but was caught and imprisoned in North Carolina. During his confinement he wrote in an unreadable script and spoke in an unfamiliar language to those around him, causing everyone to brand him a lunatic. It was thanks to Governor John Owen who brought him and gave him minimal work that Omar Ibn Said narrowly avoided hanging. Omar would later be granted a house on the Owen estate and the Governor would treat him less like a slave and more like a friend of the family. Said would later write an autobiography and maintained contact with other Muslims in the immediate area. Though he would later convert to Christianity in 1820, there are many who believe that Omar still practiced Islam, based on dedications to Muhammad written in his Arabic translation of his bible. Omar Ibn Said is well known for a series of books on history and theology Masjid Omar Ibn Said found in Fayetteville, North Carolina When Muslims were still slaves, they used their literacy to leverage their freedom through their labour. Slave owners knew about this and would exploit their slaves proficiencies in certain disciplines and their knowledge in professional backgrounds. Some Muslims had jobs like personal servants, bookkeepers and coachmen. This allowed them to gain physical mobility and access information that was normally shared within the white society. 13

14 1807 CE Yarrow Mamout, a notable name from Georgetown, Washington D.C was a versatile man in his day. Mamout was a jack of all trades and he used this skill during his service to the Beall family to make charcoal, work on the Maryland ship, make bricks and weave baskets. His eventual brick-making agreement with Beall s wife would lead to his manumission (freeing of slave) in April Instead of returning to his homeland however, Mamout chose to remain in the U.S and became a shareholder in the Columbia Bank. At present, there are portraits of Mamount hung in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Georgetown Public library in Washington. Philadelphia Museum of Art Georgetown Library Yarrow Mamout died in Georgetown, 136 years old However it was not sunshine the whole time around as many politicians were not pleased with the religious neutrality of the constitution. This often bled into their work as many Americans in 1788 had inaccurate and contradicting views of the Muslim world. Thanks to pressure from the society and politicians, many became pseudo converts (taqiyah) to protect themselves and their families. One such taqiyah is Lamine Kebe who converted to Christianity, to secure a safe passage to Africa. Conversely, slaves like Ayuba Suleiman Diallo refused to change and in his case, his owner was impressed by the fortitude, so much so that the owner freed Ayuba and provided passage back to Africa. 14

15 There are two known portraits of Yarrow Mamout, painted by James Alexander Simpson and Charles Wilson Peale 15