Muslims in America…. Diversity, Diversity and more Diversity!

Muslims in America are a very interesting and diverse group. They come from a wide range of personal backgrounds and countries. Some are first generation immigrants, just trying to realize their dreams for a better life for themselves and their families. Then there are second generation Muslims, born in the States and trying to bridge the gap between their parents customs and the American ways. Some come as refugees from their own war torn countries with little more than their suitcases in hand. Others come from privileged backgrounds seeking a better education and lifestyle than they can find in their own countries. Many of the earliest arrivals came as slaves against their own will. Then there are the American born and raised converts – or reverts as they like to be called - acknowledging that they are reverting to the original state of being born as Muslims but were taken away from that state by the materialistic life style in the States. The circumstances surrounding their conversions are as many and varied as the immigrants stories. Many were dissatisfied with the religion they were born into and inherited from their parents. Later in life when they examined their religions more thoroughly, they found that they contained errors or failed to answer all of their questions. So they went looking and found something better and found Islam. Many others converted in part because of marriage. And still others came because of a sudden spiritual awakening by reading the Qur’an or some other unique circumstances. Each one of them has a very interesting story to tell. When you put them all together, they are one of the most diverse populations one can imagine. They come from a wide variety of countries and cultures, a multitude of personal situations, motivations, purposes and goals. Yet, they all come together like the beautiful colors and shapes one finds in a patch work quilt, all united to one degree or another under the banner of Islam. The history of the migration of Muslims to America is an interesting one. Depending on which history one reads, there are reports of Muslims immigrating to America or being brought as slaves from West Africa as early as 1730. Later as more slaves were brought to work on the plantations and serve as cheap labor, the numbers of Muslims grew. As is often the case in slave labor, the existing society tried to strip them of their own identities both as human beings and as Muslims. Later other waves of immigration came to the American shores. In the early part of this century groups of immigrants came from all over the Muslim world. There was a large influx from Asia, Indo-Pakistan, Palestine, Lebanon and other Arab countries. Most of them were unskilled laborers who settled in large urban areas where they readily found work to support them in their new lives. As time passed a new era of Muslim immigration began. The 1950’s brought a more educated group of professional Muslims seeking a better environment to practice their chosen careers. As their numbers grew, mosques were built and communities grew up around them. Depending on what history one reads, the first mosque was built in America in 1934 in of all places, Cedar Rapids Iowa. Meanwhile, the native-born Americans started their own spiritual immigration to Islam. The majority of the earliest converts were from the African American community. Elijah Muhammad came followed by Malcom X and the Nation of Islam. These were some of the earliest attempts to find a brand of Islam that would be relevant to the early converts. As these movements developed and changed, they moved closer to the true meaning of Islam. Like all new movements, it was a long hard struggle for these first converts who were setting out in a new territory that had not been previously charted. Later as immigration of Muslim students grew, such organizations as the Muslim Students Association came into being. They were a group of idealistic youth eager to implement a more modern and relevant brand of Islam than they had found in their native lands. Many of them had never taken their religion seriously in their own countries and were now rediscovering it in their new found homeland in America. About the same time, there came self-proclaimed scholars seeking to teach Islam and benefit their own lives at the same time. As time passed, Anglo-Americans started gaining an interest in Islam. Many of them initially came to Islam through marriage and stayed with their new found religion long after their marriages failed. Others had their first introduction to Islam on their college campuses or in their own individual search for the Truth. In this time period converts started coming from many different areas – Hispanics and other minority groups and spiritual seekers of all kinds. Estimates vary, but statistics say that there are somewhere between 5 and 7 million Muslims in America today. They are found in every city but the largest populations are found in California, New York, New Jersey, and Texas. It’s estimated that there are somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 mosques and Islamic centers across the country. Many of them have Islamic schools and educational centers connected to them. The incredible diversity amongst the Muslims in America is reflected in the conflicts and challenges faced by each individual and every community. When so many different kinds of people and groups come together there are bound to be some differences. One immigrant said “We have so many mosques here because the people can’t get along so they break off and go start another one.” At the same time converts who came to the Truth of Islam and thought it would be easy and pleasant found it to be the most difficult yet worthwhile challenge of their lives. They find themselves living in the same society as before yet it becomes difficult for them to see how and where they fit in with their new ideas and life styles. They often find themselves alienated from their own families and friends who do not share in their new way of life. The immigrants face their own unique set of challenges. Many become more religious after seeing the American society and all its ills. At the same time, others begin by changing their names to English names. After that, they start giving up other parts of their religious identity. Little by little they find their Islam eroding right out from under them. Then one day when they wake up and see what has happened, they do a complete turn around and re-study and regain the practice of their religion perhaps more so than they had in their own counties. Something they all had to face together was “Islamaphobia”. After 9/11 there was a hysteria lead and fed by the American government to make everyone who looked or sounded like a Muslim to automatically be suspected of being a terrorist. Muslims were being terrorized themselves. They were harassed by private citizens, their businesses were bombed and they were refused jobs. Under the patriot act thousands were thrown in jail with no rights and for no reason except that someone called the police and said “I think they may be a terrorist”. The situation became so bad that a documentary reported several years after 9/11 that over 30,000 Muslims had left America because of the difficulties they were facing. In spite of the challenges and sacrifices, Islam is growing in America. If one steps back and looks at the beginnings of Islam in America and where it is today, it is amazing. America is fertile soil for Islam. There is something in its people that drives them to stand up for what they believe in no matter what the cost might be. After all, starting with barren land, they built one of the most highly advanced technological societies in record time. If they apply that same desire and skills to propagating Islam one can only imagine what the outcome might be. The challenges have been and still are tremendous. But out of the growing numbers, it is clear that the quality of both individuals and communities is improving against all the odds. It makes one want to stand up and applaud to see the Muslims struggling each day, to develop themselves and their lives for one thing - their belief in their commitment to the Truth of Islam./106