Islam in America
Introduction
It is unclear as to when the first Muslims landed in the land that would later become America. However, the only thing that is particularly clear is that first actual Muslim wave in American was made up of the African slaves (Curtis, 24). The will to maintain their religion and culture was characterized by many difficulties and this would lead to the conversion to Christianity. The efforts of practicing as well as maintaining traditional conducts were accomplished secretly. This was the tendency until the early section of the 20th century when revolution and enlightenment had been achieved in the society. Islam as per the current state is considered to be the fastest growing religion globally and particularly in America. America as always been full of prejudices against Muslims and this has risen in the recent past. However, this has not altered the association between American Muslim and the American state (Curtis, 21). This paper will, therefore, seek to establish what America has meant for the American Muslims since the 19th century and how they have embraced it.
From 1800 up to date, America has been a home to the Muslim Americans. This is not simply because it has offered them a place to stay but has also offered them opportunities to grow and practice what they believe in. Muslims in the American soil makes up less that just a percent of the American adult populace. From the 19th century, Muslim Americans have continuously acquired opportunities ranging from economic to academic in America (Curtis, 14). This has therefore provided them with opportunities to develop and equate themselves with others. The fact that America has provided them with opportunities to enroll in school means so much to them. Through education has of great essence in the development of awareness of social, economic as well as political matters (Curtis, 24).
Muslims American normally lives in a society that is characterized by pluralistic religions and thus it is evident that they are slightly different from pure Muslims. Muslims Americans highly associate with non-Muslims who most likely have no restrictive or conservative cultures and religions (Curtis, 11). America in this sense has offered the American Muslims with a sense of life. It has been a place that has offered them employment opportunities. This has thus led to them living in more improved standards since the families have access to the basic needs and services. Most of the Americans Muslims are even more educated that the Americans. America to the Muslims Americans has been an opportunity of attaining growth at the highest level. Muslims Americans believe in the ability of America and based on the recent account they hold less negative view against the nation (Curtis, 30).
Americans Muslims have highly contributed to the American society since the 19th century up to date. Normally Muslims in America as considered being unfriendly but to most individuals this is untrue. Islam religion is considered as a threat to security based on the different suicidal missions that individuals from the group have engaged in (Curtis, 12). However, it is factual that most Americans Muslims loves helping Americans since they belong to the same society and nation. For them, therefore, they would not be engaged in activities which are mostly likely capable of destruction since their wellness will also be destroyed. American has been a form of rescue for the Americans Muslims since they have been rescued from poverty and illiterate state. Education and employment opportunities are the primary benefits that they have acquired from America. Even more, the land gives them the freedom of exercising their beliefs as well culture without restriction as that is considered as the like of every individual in general (Curtis, 24).
However, Americans Muslims experiences prejudices stereotypes in natures that are myriad. Most of the individuals have highly been subjected to employment, housing discriminations as well as attacks. The American society is thus determined in fighting against the stereotypes as they are dangerous based on their destructive impacts. There are several organizations for the Americans Muslims that are particular amid at offering resources to provide education to the media as well as the general public of what Islam is as well as promoting individuals to speak against discrimination (Curtis, 12). The American Muslims believes that America is great nations and the issues that they normally face like prejudices are mainly influenced by cultural differences.
America can be described to as the home to the most diverse Muslim populace in the world today. This includes individuals of almost all ethnicity, nation and school of ideas. Despite the fact that the Muslim Americans are seen as immigrants, the recent demographics state a different occurrence. Particularly more than a third of the entire populace is for the African American persons. It is challenging to establish the accurate number of Americans Muslims in the United States but the approximation is slightly amid three and six million people. Approximately half of the particular populace was born in America. The percentage is one that is growing continuously because the immigration rate is slowing and individuals are starting to build families. Like all others, most of the Muslims migrated to America in search of democratic freedom and economic changes (Curtis, 16). American Muslims in the society today are characterized as middle class and they are also an integral section of the American society.
Most Americans Muslims are engaged civically in the American society as they work with those that are close to developing the communities. Muslims are highly presented in different Americans walks of life and despite the fact that they only make up less than a percent of the entire populace in America most Americans are fully aware of several individuals who are particularly famous (Curtis, 18). The American state has not been mean towards the efforts of the Muslims Americans as several individuals such as Hamdani Salman have been honored for their services. American Muslims participates heavily in all aspects of the civic life in America. For instance, in exclusion of those that plays part in white color professions, they also play part in community centers voluntary, schools board’s members, and clubs members and also engage in civic roles. Similarly to other religious communities Americans Muslims have developed their individual institutions in America. These institutions are heavily involved in charitable offering, healthcare services, politics, media and civic engagement (Curtis, 26). In short, the American Muslims are part of the public life in America and their contributions cannot be unrated.
Islam is not a religious tradition because it fully adheres which is referred to as Muslim. It is no doubt that Americans Muslims are similar to other religious teams that particularly take part in the political life in America. The voting pattern of Americans Muslims is a general mirror of the entire American populace. Americans Muslims in general play part in democrats, republican, conservatives, and liberals. For those that engage in the Islamic religion, there is absolutely no political platform for that governing them in America (Curtis, 31).
The United States Muslims have always been in agreement that America is a part of them. This has been depicted by their continuous participation in civic roles and development of communities. This, therefore, shows the manner in which the American Muslims have accepted America in general (Curtis, 32). The ongoing persistent though that the Muslims in the United States can never be more unreliable and inaccurate. In factual sense, more than 81percent of the Americans Muslims who are children or adults immigrants are termed to be the most involved persons in religious and liberal tolerance in the world today and they are sustaining the position as per years. The Muslims Americans have assimilated culturally through the American modernization trend. In a large extent, it is expressed that the Muslims are highly losing their faith cultural expressions in America. The fact that the most Muslims in America are willing to depart to their strict religious laws shows the highest extent of liberalism. Americans Muslims are highly adopting the social norms in America and this demonstrates the high extent to which Muslims are against ideologically radicalized groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaida. Being patriotic individuals is one of the measures that clearly demonstrate the extent to which the American Muslims have accepted America in general. American Muslims are highly tolerated to the economic, social and political roles of the American citizens.
The Muslim Americans, in general, do not define the American ideals as all positive. This is influenced highly by prevailing discrimination and prejudice stereotype against the Muslim group. The Muslims Americans are highly considered as a threat and particularly in the recent years (Curtis, 44). This has been influenced by the rising terror attacks that are mainly conducted by persons from the Islamic religion. This paints a negative picture towards the particular group despite their continuous commitment. It is highly admitted that the illegal Muslims immigrants are the once associated with the negative behaviors since the Americans Muslims are true to the policies and practices of America. America to the Muslims American is a form of refuge that offers them the democratic freedom that they were highly denied by their native states. American Muslims are individuals who hold an optimistic view in regard to life in America and they desire that they would be incorporated into the main source of the state.
The recent studies have established that American Muslims or the Muslims immigrants are among the most efficient individuals in the integration into the American society. In terms of the economy, the Muslim community in America is considered to be the richest in the world. This demonstrates their high participation in the economic world. It is reported that 45 percent of their populace generates at least 30,000 dollars every year, which is a higher share than the 36 percent of the entire American populace. As compared to the entire state’s population that are reported to be highly involved in self-employments and business in a higher state. The Muslims Americans women’s stands among the most educated persons in the nation. More than 29% of the population has at least a single college degree. More and more Muslims Americans are currently reported to be participating actively in politics. This is the way that they have defined the state’s politics by taking a role in it (Curtis, 64). This can additionally be seen from the manner in which they participate equally with the other population in politics. Civic participation is an individual right and the participation of most Muslims Americans in political activities demonstrates their willingness to ensure that the society develops fully.
The Muslims Americans have willingly accepted and blended with the Americans culture. Despite the fact that the culture in the state is described to be loose in terms of morals, religion and cultural restriction the American Muslims relates well with it (Curtis, 76). This is seen with their engagement with the people in ensuring that development is achieved in the American communities. The American people are considered by the particular group as friendly and accommodating. Even with the rise of terrorism which has changed the perception of most individuals towards Islamic religion, the American people have not lost their faith in the Muslims Americans (Curtis, 92). This is simply because they consider themselves as part of America and they offer much development contributions.
The only thing that correctly fits facts is that Islamic religion and the Muslims Americans poses no threat. This is because the Muslim Americans adherents enjoy a prosperity modicum in the American society that is pluralistic and holds decent governance. This simply means that being Muslim Americans is not an issue as they are not among the factors that fuel Islamic attacks. The Muslims Americans can be considered to be more of American than Muslim since they have highly accepted the societal norms in the state (Curtis, 111).
Muslim Americans are similar to other American groups. On the average level, Muslim Americans lean to be more educated, fluent in English and politically conscious. This particular group shares common features with the entire populace in the United States in regard to income, employment and education. An equal match is directed to the religious and political perspective. They highly respect policies and American policies as they are additionally governed by them. Importantly, being a Muslim American is not the necessary aspect in consideration of their political views (Curtis, 120). For example, the majority of the Muslim Americans are in opposition to gay marriage and they are highly in favor of an increment of federal funds for the individuals in need. Muslims Americans are considered to be a bit high in conservation that the entire public in America in regard to matters such as abortion as they oppose with more than half the percent as compared to the other groups. However, in regard to foreign policy, this is one of the particular areas where the Muslims are not fully committed to with the rest of the public.
Muslim Americans have highly been against the American prejudice against them by considering the Muslim as a threat. The Islamic religion is just like any other and therefore the Muslims should not be judged as equals (Curtis, 124). The fact that they are Muslims does not state that they have equal attitudes, values, and objectives but it requires people to be good to recognize and appreciate their contributions.
The Muslim Americans have challenged America by proving to be the best among the other groups situated in the country in terms of developments and contributions. The Muslims Americans have benefited more from the American system of education. The attained skills, as well as experience, are thus being utilized in ensuring that the communities are a better place to exist in (Curtis, 81). In addition, they have constantly fought misconceptions and the negative stereotypes that are held by the American persons against them. It is currently accepted socially in America to hold or state that Muslims individuals are a major threat to security. However, the Muslims Americans have challenged the state by attempting to handle the national challenge in a democratic form. They have not been involved in destructive riots to fight for what they believe in but instead, they are trying to educate the public about themselves and their religion. This is aimed at developing more understanding of Muslims and what they believe in to eradicate misconceptions in the society against the Muslim Americans.
The Muslim Americans are more firms as compared to other minor groups in the American society. Most of the minority groups have fully or almost completely assimilated into the American societal culture. However, for the Muslim Americans, this has not been the case. The Muslim Americans have accepted the social, economic and political norms in America but their culture and religion beliefs have not been lost. Muslims are known to be one of the ethnic groups with strict and traditionally grounded culture. Despite being a minority group in the United States their practices and beliefs have been maintained even when oppression was subjected to them in the previous centuries (Curtis, 172). This too many is considered as a form of rejection to what is being provided by the state. However, the ethnic group holds strong grounds on what they value and there it might time more time in achieving assimilation.
Conclusion
In summing up, the presence of Muslim Americans in the United States can never be ignored. Muslim Americans have highly integrated into the social, political and economic standards in the state. This is a form of a positive acceptance of America as their home. The Muslim Americans like any other group that has been offered democratic freedom and accommodation are America has utilized its opportunities adequately. Despite the rising prejudices against the Muslim community, the Muslim Americans hold positive regards towards the American culture, people, politics, economy and the social status. This is evident in the manner in which they participate in economic, political and social development activities. They exercise their democratic right through voting and political contributions. The ability of the Muslim Americans to strive despite the existing challenges should be utilized as their definition factor and not describe them based on the conduct of their religion or ethnic group. America to the Muslim American is their home and they say that America to them is a pleasant place.
Work Cited
Curtis, Edward E. The Columbia Sourcebook of Muslims in the United States. New York: Columbia University Press, 2009. Print.
