Islam_in_America

Islam in America In all religions, there are similarities and abject difference. It is these differences that intrigue Americans about the Islamic faith. The roots of this ancient religion were sown about 1400 years ago in Mecca, Arabia. It was during this time frame the Prophet Muhammad alleged he received spiritual revelations from God. These spiritual instructions were transcribed in their holy book, the Quran. Islam is the name of the region. The followers of Islam are called Muslims. In this region there is only one true God. Because the followers of Islam were being persecuted in Mecca, they began a migration to nearby Medina were Muhammad established and governed the first Islamic Community. This community became the power on the Arabian Peninsula. From these humble beginning, Islam followers began a migrations that ensure the longevity and growth of the religion (Neusner 175 ). Islam has become a global religious entity with billions of followers worldwide including America. The odyssey of peoples of African descent in America began as a complex interplay of forced acculturation, voluntary adaptation, and assimilation to the dominant American culture. “These Muslims slaves were a distinctive and resistant minority in the slave population” (Turner12). As these new immigrants settle in America, they not only instilled their heritage, customs and traditions, but also their religious practices. America was colonized by people from all over the world. As these new immigrants settle in America, they not only instilled their heritage, customs and traditions, but also their religious practices. While this might well have been anticipated, what was not anticipated was that a percentage of Americans would be converted into the Islamic faith. The most influential of these coverts was Elijah Muhammad formerly known as Elijah Poole who established himself as the leader of the Nation of Islam. His teachings emphasized black separatism. In following these teachings, blacks were encourage work toward financial independence from whites by opening their own business, completing and furthering their education and becoming positive role models not only within their black families but their communities as well. Elijah Muhammad based his teaching on the scripture inscribed in the Quran where a strong work ethic was encouraged but strict adherence to the moral codes depicted were required. By opening temples and mosques in poor, urban neighborhoods, Elijah Muhammad in a sense was able to bring Islam into areas where there had been little or no access to religious services. This enables the recruitment of entire families within communities. With The incorporation of entire communities’ all but guaranteed family participation in most religious activities; therefore ensuring the growth and strength of Islam. For many the continued denounciation by Elijah Muhammad of white America within the poor communities served as a call to arms to many disenfranchised youths throughout America. This was a time to come together as a united group for the good of the religion, for the good of the community and for the good of humanity. The individual with a single voice which may go unheard became part of the collective sum of the Islamic community, a voice that was seldom ignored. His teachings were not only popular with poor people but they were also headed by students and professional Americans. One of these converts was Cassisus Clay (1942) the winner of several Olympic gold medals and the heavy weight champion of the world who joined the Nation of Islam changing his name to Muhammad Ali. While in prison, Malcolm X (1925-1965) was recruited and joined the Nation of Islam where his ascention to become one of the most prominent and influential ministers of Islam began. It is in this context that I myself began to observe Muslims in their daily ritual of dress, solitary prayers, group prayers, fasting and observation of Ramadan. But because I have only worked in male prisons, I have not witness firsthand the religious garb of female Muslims. While prison is not a natural environment to observe or to learn Islam It is structured environment with its own set of protocols that ensure all inmates are expected to act as a unit not a religious community. There are few rewards to working in a prison. One of these rewards is the interaction with many races, cultures and traditions. Like so many Americans, even in a work environment, I did not take the time to understand the pageantry demonstrated in the religious rituals of Islam. I did understand that for each ritual that was executed, I could equate with protocols that I followed as a Baptist on Sunday morning. All religions as well as most groups have protocols that incorporate the individual into group activities. These activates enable each member to participate in ways that not only strengthened the unity of the community but also allows the needs of the individual to be addressed: to be accepted, to be needed, to be allowed to support and be supported, to served a common goal, to foster family ties and foster bonds with other Muslims. In essence, to be all you can be as exclaimed everyday by the United States armed forces, another work group I am proudly affiliated with. Human beings are innately engineered as community dwellers. Whether it be religion, groups, gangs or even coworkers, most individuals feel complied to become part of the group and it is this need so many fill with religious participation. Prior to his pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm X embraced Elijah Muhammad’s teachings on black separatism and that all whites were indeed devils. Once in Mecca, he realized that Islam was blind to color and race. He understood that Islam is a community of believers worldwide, A community comprising of many members working forward for the good of not one but all. (Smith 88) With this new found knowledge, Malcolm X rejected the derogatory teachings of Elijah Muhammad. In his teaching, all whites were indeed the devil. Malcolm knew this could not be true because some of the Muslims he prayed and worshipped with in Mecca were also white. Therefore, Malcolm X broke with the Nation of Islam and began practicing and preaching the teaching consistent with mainstream Muslim belief as prescribed in the Quran. Because he abandoned the teaching of his mentor, Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X divided the Islamic community. Based on this theory, many believed this was why Malcolm X was assassinated. Even with these notable Muslims in the media, Islam remains an enigma to most Americans. “Islam has quietly become the third largest religion in the United States.” (Neusner 174). While the survival and expansion of Islam in America is a testimony to the diversity of this country, the acceptance of Muslims by mainstream America is questionable. Instead of gathering factual information on Islam practices, the general consensus is to accept myths, speculation and folklore that all Muslims are religious fanatics and anti- American is widely accepted. For many Muslims, they have learned to assimilate into American culture without forgoing any of their Islamic traditions. While learning and participating in both religious and non-religious activities, Muslims have placed themselves in unique positions to participate with mainstream America without being intrusive. Muslims have learned to be visible in the community as productive members not only at work but by introducing their children to trick or treating, Girl or Boy Scout, soccer/after school programs, etc. Having their children interact with mainstream America at a young age forge bonds at school, on the playground and during activities in the neighborhood. Children are taught to be prejudice. When children are exposed to other races, cultures and tradition at an early age this promotes a tolerance that many older Americans seem only to overcome with a degree of interactions, education and training. While exposure to other religious/cultures in the community and work may enhance older Americans to be more tolerate of other rights to be difference, many still remain set in their own ways. They have learned to project an acceptance in public while maintaining their distance with those of the same narrow thoughts. Many businesses have mandated their human resource departments to organize and monitor training programs established to address the differences in race relations highlighting religious, racial and cultural diversity, etc. In order to properly address these problems, protocols within the training modules also address the similarities that bring us together as a people. We are after all the same, human. Islam places great value on the family as a unit. While the adult is recruited for the current needs of the community, there must be someone in place already trained to the protocol of Islam and knowledgeable in the scriptures inscribed in the Quran to take over the reins in the future. Having qualified personnel in place is essential for the continuation and growth of the Islamic religion. While Muslims are willing to assimilate into mainstream America by participating in time honored traditions, many American find it repulsive to explore religious rituals or research cultural and traditions which are foreign to them. People fear what they do not understand. Everyone wants to be accepted. All people want to be respected. No one wants to be persecuted. Most important, no one wants to be ignored. Although Muslims practices associated with religious ritual such as dress, required prayer, the individual must wash their hands and face which represent the physical and spiritual cleanliness required before approaching God or reciting God’s holy words in prayer. While the individual can pray on their own, Muslims must participate in group prayer on Friday. Because many Muslims work on Friday on conventional jobs, they have opted to meet on Sundays to fulfill this religious ritual. Without breaking tradition, Muslims have learned to make accommodations that allow them to practice their religious beliefs without infringing on the rights of others. For any organization to survival in these ever changing times, those in charge must make decisions that will satisfy required protocols but keep the membership intact and growing. Many Americans initial reaction to anything remotely associated with Islam or Muslims is an emotional one: Fear. This fear is fostered and fed daily through extensive media coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, controversial nuclear weaponry in Iran, the infamous 911 attack and the continued terrorist attacks around the world. Although it seems a section of American populace rejects anything associated with Islam, there is a strong consensus especially in the younger demographic group that allow a person’s actions speak for them rather than their customs, traditions and religious rituals. In keeping with their traditional Muslims dress and prayer rituals would only serve to further ostracize them from mainstream America. In making concessions, Muslims have also dropped barriers which in the past kept those in mainstream America from joining the Islamic community. Muslims believe there is only one God and Muhammad is the Prophet (or messenger) of God. In their Quran, Muhammad was sent to communicate God’s word to the world. Christianity and Jewish religions are based on the same concept. With Muslims, the Quran represents the word of God. Muslims believe Jewish revelations are represented through scripture or Torah and the same in the Christian faith in Jesus ‘Message or New Testament (Neusner 173). At the completion of this paper, it would be my hope to have enlightened mainstream American to see members in the Islamic community in a more favorable light. They have more in common with mainstream American than differences. Religious beliefs are based on strong personal convictions. But family influences and expectations are also at work. For those who study Islam, they have found comfort in the established protocol, dress associated in Islamic tradition. Remember, religion in only facet of the total person. For some though, religion is the very aspect of their life while others don’t believe in religion at all. Bibliography Barrett, Paul S.. "American Islam ". The struggle for the Soul of A religion. Picsdor, 2007. Smith, Jane I. Islam in America. Columbia: Columbia University Press, 1999. Neusner, Jacob. World Religions in America. 3rd Edition. Westminster John Know Press, 2003. .