.09 percent Muslims? News coverage is way out of proportion. 2.7 percent self identifying LGBT same situation along with public policy. On Feb 29, 2016 3:19 PM, "plainolamerican" <[email protected]> wrote:
> *Before B.O., there* was virtually no visible presence of Islam in > America. > > --- > > ignorance noted again. > > > *Islam* is the third largest faith in the United States > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States> after > Christianity and Judaism.[1] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-pew2015-1> > According > to a 2010 study, it is followed by 0.9% of the population, compared to > 70.6% who follow Christianity, 22.8% unaffiliated, 1.9% Judaism, 0.7% > Buddhism, and 0.7% Hinduism.[1] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-pew2015-1> > [2] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Islam_in_the_United_States-2> > According > to new estimate in 2016 there are 3.3 million Muslims living in the United > States and comprise about 1% of the total U.S. population.[3] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-:0-3> > > American Muslims come from various backgrounds and, according to a 2009 > Gallup poll, are one of the most racially diverse religious groups in the > United States.[4] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-4> > Native-born > American Muslims are mainly African Americans > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American> who make up about a > quarter of the total Muslim population. Many of these have converted to > Islam <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam> during the last seventy > years. Conversion to Islam in large urban areas > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_areas>[5] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-5> has > also contributed to its growth over the years. > > While an estimated 10 percent[6] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-diouf-6> > [7] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-7> of > the slaves brought to colonial America from Africa > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa> arrived as Muslims,[8] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-The_Muslims_of_Early_America-8> > [9] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-9> > Islam > was stringently suppressed on plantations.[6] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-diouf-6> > Prior > to the late 19th century, most documented non-enslaved Muslims in North > America were merchants, travelers, and sailors.[8] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-The_Muslims_of_Early_America-8> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Islamic_Center_of_Washington.jpg> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Islamic_Center_of_Washington.jpg> > Islamic Center of Washington > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Center_of_Washington> atWashington, > D.C. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.> was opened in 1957. > > From the 1880s to 1914, several thousand Muslims > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims> immigrated to the United States > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States> from the former territories > of the Ottoman Empire <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire> and > the former Mughal Empire <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_Empire>. > [10] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-curtis-10> > The > Muslim population of the U.S. increased dramatically in the 20th century, > with much of the growth driven by a comparatively high birth rate and > immigrant communities of mainly Arab and South Asian descent. About 72% of > American Muslims are immigrants or "second generation".[11] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-11> > [12] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-12> > > In 2005, more people from Islamic countries became legal permanent United > States residents > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_residence_(United_States)> — > nearly 96,000 — than there had been in any other year in the previous two > decades.[13] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-autogenerated8-13> > [14] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-autogenerated3-14> > In > 2009, more than 115,000 Muslims became legal residents of the United States. > [15] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-15> > > Contents [hide > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#>] > > - 1History > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#History> > - 1.1Early records > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Early_records> > - 1.1.1American Revolution and thereafter > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#American_Revolution_and_thereafter> > - 1.1.2Nineteenth century > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Nineteenth_century> > - 2Slaves > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Slaves> > - 3Religious freedom > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Religious_freedom> > - 3.1Anti-Islam suppositions > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Anti-Islam_suppositions> > - 4Modern Muslims > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Modern_Muslims> > - 5Sub-groups > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Sub-groups> > - 5.1Ahmadiyya > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Ahmadiyya> > - 5.2Black Muslim movements > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Black_Muslim_movements> > - 5.2.1Moorish Science Temple of America > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Moorish_Science_Temple_of_America> > - 5.2.2Nation of Islam > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Nation_of_Islam> > - 5.2.2.1Five-Percent Nation > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Five-Percent_Nation> > - 5.2.2.2United Nation of Islam > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#United_Nation_of_Islam> > - 5.2.2.3Conversion to orthodox Sunni Islam > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Conversion_to_orthodox_Sunni_Islam> > - 5.3Shia Islam > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Shia_Islam> > - 5.4Sufism > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Sufism> > - 5.5Quranic movement > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Quranic_movement> > - 5.6Non-denominational Muslims > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Non-denominational_Muslims> > - 5.7Other Muslims > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Other_Muslims> > - 6Demographics > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Demographics> > - 6.1Race > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Race> > - 6.2Religion > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Religion> > - 6.3Education and income > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Education_and_income> > - 6.4Conversion to Islam in prisons > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Conversion_to_Islam_in_prisons> > - 6.5Population concentration > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Population_concentration> > - 6.5.1By state > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#By_state> > - 6.5.2By city > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#By_city> > - 6.6Mosques > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Mosques> > - 7Culture > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Culture> > - 8Politics > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Politics> > - 9Integration > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Integration> > - 10Organizations > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Organizations> > - 10.1Political > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Political> > - 10.2Charity > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Charity> > - 10.3Museums > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Museums> > - 10.4Research and Think Tanks > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Research_and_Think_Tanks> > - 11Views > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Views> > - 11.1American populace's views on Islam > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#American_populace.27s_views_on_Islam> > - 11.2American Muslims' views of the United States > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#American_Muslims.27_views_of_the_United_States> > - 11.3American Muslim life after the September 11 attacks > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#American_Muslim_life_after_the_September_11_attacks> > - 12Controversy > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Controversy> > - 12.1Extremism in the United States > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Extremism_in_the_United_States> > - 12.2Islamophobia > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Islamophobia> > - 13See also > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#See_also> > - 14Notes > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Notes> > - 15Primary sources > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Primary_sources> > - 16Further reading > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Further_reading> > - 17External links > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#External_links> > - 17.1Events > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Events> > - 17.2Guides and reference listings > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Guides_and_reference_listings> > - 17.3Academia and news > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#Academia_and_news> > - 17.4History > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#History_2> > > History[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=1> > ]Early records[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=2> > ] > > One of the earliest accounts of Islam's presence in North America dates to > 1528, when a Moroccan slave, called Estevanico by his Spanish masters, was > shipwrecked near present-day Galveston, Texas.[16] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-16> He > and four survivors subsequently traveled through much of the American > southwest and the Mexican interior before reaching Mexico City. > > "Muslims' presence [in the United States] is affirmed in documents dated > more than a century before religious liberty became the law of the land, as > in a Virginia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia> statute of 1682 > which referred to 'negroes, moores, molatoes, and others, born of and in > heathenish, idollatrous, pagan, and Mahometan parentage and country' who > 'heretofore and hereafter may be purchased, procured, or otherwise > obteigned, as slaves.'"[17] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-17> One > of the first documented Muslims in North America was Anthony Janszoon van > Salee <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Janszoon_van_Salee>, a > landholder and merchant of mixed Dutch-Moor > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorish_Science_Temple_of_America> descent > who settled in New Netherlands > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Netherlands> (modern New York) in the > 17th century.[18] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-AV-18> > [19] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-19> > > An early Egyptian immigrant is mentioned in the accounts of the Dutch > settlers of the Catskill Mountains > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catskill_Mountains> and recorded in the > 1884 *History of Greene County, New York*. According to this tradition, > an Egyptian named "Norsereddin" settled in the Catskills in the vicinity of > the Catskill Mountain House > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catskill_Mountain_House>. He befriended > the local indigenous American chief, Shandaken, and sought the hand of his > daughter Lotowana in marriage. Rejected, he poisoned Lotowana and in > consequence was caught and burned alive.[20] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-20> > [21] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-21> > American Revolution and thereafter[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=3> > ] > > Records from the American Revolutionary War indicate that at least a few > Muslims fought on the American side. Among the recorded names of American > soldiers are "Yusuf ben Ali" and "Bampett Muhamed".[22] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-22> > > - > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Letter_of_George_Washington_to_Mohammed_ben_Abdallah_in_appreciation_of_the_signature_of_the_Treaty_of_Peace_and_Friendship_signed_in_Marrakech_in_1787.jpg> > > Letter of George Washington > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington> toMohammed ben > Abdallah <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_ben_Abdallah>in > appreciation of theTreaty of Peace and Friendship > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan%E2%80%93American_Treaty_of_Friendship>, > signed in 1787. > > - > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Yarrow_Mamout_(Muhammad_Yaro),_1819._Charles_Willson_Peale.jpg> > > Yarrow Mamout (Muhammad Yaro), 1819. Portrait by Charles Willson Peale > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Willson_Peale>,Philadelphia > Museum of Art > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Museum_of_Art> > > The first country to recognize the United States > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States> as an independent nation > was the Sultanate of Morocco > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaouite_dynasty>, under its ruler Mohammed > ben Abdallah <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_ben_Abdallah>, in > the year 1777.[23] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-23> He > maintained several correspondences with President George Washington > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington>. The text of this > letter is readable at Letter George Washington Mohammed Ben Abdallah 1 > Dec 1789 > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_George_Washington_Mohammed_Ben_Abdallah_1_Dec_1789> > > On 9 December 1805, President > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States> Thomas > Jefferson <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson> hosted an Iftar > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Iftar_dinner#Thomas_Jefferson.27s_Iftar> > dinner > at the White House <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House> for his > guest Sidi Soliman Mellimelli > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sidi_Soliman_Mellimelli&action=edit&redlink=1>, > an envoy from Tunis <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunis>.[24] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-24> > > Bilali (Ben Ali) Muhammad <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilali_Document> was > a Fula Muslim from Timbo <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbo>, > Futa-Jallon > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Futa-Jallon&action=edit&redlink=1>, > in present-day Guinea-Conakry <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea>, who > arrived at Sapelo Island <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapelo_Island> during > 1803. While enslaved, he became the religious leader and Imam for a slave > community numbering approximately eighty Muslim men residing on his > plantation. During the War of 1812 > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812>, Muhammad and the eighty > Muslim men under his leadership protected their master's Sapelo Island > property from a British attack.[25] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-25> He > is known to have fasted during the month of Ramadan, worn a fez and kaftan > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaftan>, and observed the Muslim feasts > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha>, in addition to consistently > performing the five obligatory prayers.[26] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-26> In > 1829, Bilali authored a thirteen-page Arabic *Risala* on Islamic beliefs > and the rules for ablution, morning prayer, and the calls to prayer. Known > as the Bilali Document <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilali_Document>, > it is currently housed at the University of Georgia in Athens. > > Between 1785 and 1815, over a hundred American sailors were held for > ransom in Algiers. Several wrote captivity narratives of their experiences > that gave most Americans their first view of the Middle East and Muslim > ways, and newspapers often commented on them. The views were generally > negative. Royall Tyler <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royall_Tyler> wrote *The > Algerine Captive* (1797), an early American novel depicting the life of > an American doctor employed in the slave trade who himself is captured and > enslaved by Barbary pirates. Finally Presidents Jefferson and Madison sent > the American navy to confront the pirates, and ended the threat in 1815 > during the First Barbary War > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War>.[27] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-27> > [28] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-28> > [29] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-29> During > negotiation of the treaty of peace which ended hostilities, American envoys > made clear that the United States had no animosity towards any Muslim > country. > Nineteenth century[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=4> > ] > > On the morning of April 4, 1865, near the end of the American Civil War > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War>, Union troops > commanded by Col. Thomas M. Johnston set ablaze the University of Alabama > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Alabama>; a copy of the Quran > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran> known as the “The Koran: Commonly > Called The Alcoran Of Mohammed.” was saved by one of the University's staff. > [30] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-30> > > Two hundred and ninety-two[31] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-31> > Muslims > are known to have fought during the Civil War. The highest ranking Muslim > officer during the War was Captain Moses Osman.[32] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-32>Nicholas > Said, formerly enslaved to an Arab master, came to the United States in > 1860 and found a teaching job in Detroit. In 1863, Said enlisted in the > 55th Massachusetts Colored Regiment in the United States Army and rose to > the rank of sergeant. He was later granted a transfer to a military > hospital, where he gained some knowledge of medicine. His Army records > state that he died in Brownsville, Tennessee, in 1882.[33] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-talkingaboutislam.com-33> > Another > Muslim soldier from the Civil War was Max Hassan, an African who worked for > the military as a porter.[34] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-34> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gertrudis_Serna_%26_Hadji_Ali.jpg> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gertrudis_Serna_%26_Hadji_Ali.jpg> > Gertrudis Serna & Hadji Ali (Hi Jolly > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Jolly>). > > A Muslim named Hajj Ali <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Jolly> (commonly > spelled as "Hi Jolly") was hired by the United States Cavalry > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Cavalry> in 1856 to tend > camels in Arizona and California. He would later become a prospector in > Arizona.[35] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-35> > [36] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-36> Hajj > Ali died in 1903.[33] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-talkingaboutislam.com-33> > > During the American Civil war, the "scorched earth" policy of the North > destroyed churches, farms, schools, libraries, colleges, and a great deal > of other property. The libraries at the University of Alabama managed to > save one book from the debris of their library buildings. On the morning of > April 4, 1865, when Federal troops reached the campus with an order to > destroy the university, Andre Deloffre, a modern language professor and > custodian of the library, appealed to the commanding officer to spare one > of the finest libraries in the South. The officer, being sympathetic, sent > a courier to Gen. Croxton at his headquarters in Tuscaloosa asking > permission to save the Rotunda, but the general refused to allow this. The > officer reportedly said, "I will save one volume as a memento of this > occasion." The volume selected was a rare copy of the Qur'an.[37] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-37> > > Alexander Russell Webb > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Russell_Webb> is considered by > historians to be the earliest prominent Anglo-American convert to Islam in > 1888. In 1893, he was the sole representative of Islam at the first > Parliament of the World's Religions.[38] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-M-38> The > Russian-born Muslim scholar and writer Achmed Abdullah > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achmed_Abdullah> (1881–1945) was another > prominent early American Muslim. [39] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-39> > Slaves[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=5> > ] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ibn_Sori.jpg> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ibn_Sori.jpg> > Drawing of Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulrahman_Ibrahim_Ibn_Sori>, who was a > Muslim prince from West Africa <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa> and > made a slave in the United States. > > Some of the slaves brought to colonial America from Africa were Muslims > whose ancestors were converted to Islam by Arab invaders when they > conquered most of North Africa.[6] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-diouf-6> > [10] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-curtis-10> > By > 1800, some 500,000 Africans arrived in what became the United > States.[*citation > needed <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>*] Historians > estimate that between 15 to 30 percent of all enslaved African men and less > than 15 percent of the enslaved African women were Muslims. These enslaved > Muslims stood out from their compatriots because of their "resistance, > determination and education".[40] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-hill394-40> > > It is estimated that over 50% of the slaves imported to North America came > from areas where Islam was followed by at least a minority population. > Thus, no less than 200,000 came from regions influenced by Islam. > Substantial numbers originated from Senegambia > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegambia_Confederation>, a region with > an established community of Muslim inhabitants > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Senegal> extending to the 11th > century.[41] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Koszegi-41> > > Through a series of conflicts, primarily with the Fulani > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people> jihad states > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulani_jihad_states>, about half of the > Senegambian Mandinka <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_people> were > converted to Islam, while as many as a third were sold into slavery to the > Americas through capture in conflict.[42] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-42> > > Michael A. Gomez speculated that Muslim slaves may have accounted for > "thousands, if not tens of thousands", but does not offer a precise > estimate. He also suggests many non-Muslim slaves were acquainted with some > tenets of Islam, due to Muslim trading and proselytizing activities.[43] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Gomez-43> > Historical > records indicate many enslaved Muslims conversed in the Arabic language. > Some even composed literature (such as autobiographies) and commentaries on > the Quran.[44] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Gomez1-44> > > Some newly arrived Muslim slaves assembled for communal salat > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salat> (prayers). Some were provided a > private praying area by their owner. The two best documented Muslim slaves > were Ayuba Suleiman Diallo > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayuba_Suleiman_Diallo> and Omar Ibn Said > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Ibn_Said>. Suleiman was brought to > America in 1731 and returned to Africa in 1734.[41] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Koszegi-41> > Like > many Muslim slaves, he often encountered impediments when attempting to > perform religious rituals and was eventually allotted a private location > for prayer by his master.[44] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Gomez1-44> > > Omar Ibn Said (ca. 1770–1864) is among the best documented examples of a > practicing-Muslim slave. He lived on a colonial North Carolina plantation > and wrote many Arabic texts while enslaved. Born in the kingdom of Futa > Tooro <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futa_Tooro> (modern Senegal > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal>), he arrived in America in 1807, > one month before the U.S. abolished importation of slaves > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_Prohibiting_Importation_of_Slaves>. > Some of his works include the Lords Prayer, the Bismillah, this is How You > Pray, Quranic phases, the 23rd Psalm, and an autobiography. In 1857, he > produced his last known writing on Surah 110 of the Quran. In 1819, Omar > received an Arabic translation of the Christian Bible from his master, > James Owen. Omar converted to Christianity in 1820, an episode widely used > throughout the South to "prove" the benevolence of slavery. However, some > scholars believe he continued to be a practicing Muslim, based on > dedications to Muhammad written in his Bible.[45] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-45> > [46] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-46> > > - > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William_Hoare_of_Bath_-_Portrait_of_Ayuba_Suleiman_Diallo,_(1701-1773).jpg> > > Ayuba Suleiman Diallo was the son of an Imam > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam>of Boonda in Africa, before being > enslaved. > > - <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Omar_Ibn_Said.jpg> > > Omar Ibn Said was an Islamic scholar fromSenegal > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal>. > > - > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Surat_al_Mulk_bu_Omar_bin_Said_(1770-1864).jpg> > > Surat <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sura> Al-Mulk > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mulk> from theQur'an > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an>. copied by Omar ibn Said. > > Religious freedom[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=6> > ] > > Views of Islam in America affected debates regarding freedom of religion > during the drafting of the state constitution of Pennsylvania > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania> in 1776. Constitutionalists > promoted religious toleration while Anticonstitutionalists called for > reliance on Protestant values in the formation of the state's republican > government. The former group won out, and inserted a clause for religious > liberty in the new state constitution. American views of Islam were > influenced by favorable Enlightenment > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment> writings from > Europe, as well as Europeans who had long warned that Islam was a threat to > Christianity and republicanism.[47] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-47> > > In 1776, John Adams <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams> published > "Thoughts > on Government <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughts_on_Government>," in > which he mentions the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a "sober inquirer after > truth" alongside Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, and other thinkers. > > In 1785, George Washington > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington> stated a willingness to > hire "Mahometans," as well as people of any nation or religion, to work on > his private estate at Mount Vernon if they were "good workmen."[48] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-48> > > In 1790, the South Carolina legislative body granted special legal status > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moors_Sundry_Act_of_1790> to a community > of Moroccans. > > In 1797, President John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli>, declaring the United > States had no "character of enmity against the laws, religion, or > tranquillity, of Mussulmen <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim>".[49] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-49> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Article_11.gif> > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Article_11.gif> > Treaty of Tripoli <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli>, > Article 11 > > In his autobiography > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autobiography_of_Benjamin_Franklin>, > published in 1791, Benjamin Franklin > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin> stated that he "did not > disapprove" of a meeting place in Pennsylvania that was designed to > accommodate preachers of all religions. Franklin wrote that "even if the > Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism > to us, he would find a pulpit at his service."[50] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Earlyamerica.com-50> > Franklin > also wrote an anti-slavery parody piece claiming to be translation of the > response of a government official at Algiers to a 17th-century petition to > banish slavery there; the piece develops the theme that Europeans are > specially suited for enslavement on cultural and religious grounds, and > that there would be practical problems with abolishing slavery in North > Africa; this satirizes similar arguments that were then made about the > enslavement of Blacks in North America.[51] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-51> > > Thomas Jefferson <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson> defended > religious freedom in America including those of Muslims. Jefferson > explicitly mentioned Muslims when writing about the movement for religious > freedom in Virginia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia>. In his > autobiography Jefferson wrote "[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. Where the > preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy > author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word > 'Jesus Christ,' so that it should read 'a departure from the plan of Jesus > Christ, the holy author of our religion.' The insertion was rejected by a > great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend within the mantle of > its protection the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahometan>, the Hindoo and infidel of > every denomination."[52] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-52> While > President, Jefferson also participated in an iftar > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftar> with the Ambassador of Tunisia > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia> in 1809.[53] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-53> > Anti-Islam suppositions[edit > <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_in_the_United_States&action=edit§ion=7> > ] > > However, not all politicians were pleased with the religious neutrality of > the Constitution, which prohibited any religious test. Anti-Federalists in > the 1788 North Carolina ratifying convention opposed the new constitution; > one reason was the fear that some day Catholics or Muslims might be elected > president. William Lancaster said:.[54] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-54> > Let us remember that we form a government for millions not yet in > existence.... In the course of four or five hundred years, I do not know > how it will work. This is most certain, that Papists may occupy that chair, > and Mahometans may take it. I see nothing against it. > > Indeed, in 1788 many opponents of the Constitution pointed to the Middle > East <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East>, especially the Ottoman > Empire <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire> as a negative > object lesson against standing armies and centralized state authority.[55] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States#cite_note-55> > Modern Muslims > ... -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
