ISLAM

Islam

Introduction

Islam was founded by the prophet Muhammad (ca. 570-632 CE), who had a direct revelation from God (Allah). This revelation is written down in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. In 622 CE, the first year of the Islamic calendar, Muhammad went from Mecca to Medina; this event is called the Hijra, or “walk,” which was the founding act of Islam. Sometime later, Muhammad returned to Mecca with his soldiers and gained a lot of followers and power. Islam regards itself as the final religion, which is based on the ultimate revelation given by God to Muhammad. This revelation gave perfection to the Mosaic and Christian revelation. Muhammad, the prophet of God, is the last and the highest of the prophets. (Tschannen & Olivier, 1991)

In the Islamic tradition, on each Friday there is a ritual prayer in the mosque. Ritual prayers are among the most important elements of Islam, the so-called Five Pillars of Islam: (1) fasting in the month of Ramadan, (2) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj), (3) ritual prayers (salát) several times a day, (4) charity (e.g., giving money to the poor), and (5) the profession of faith. Also, the observance of religious law (sharia), which contains rules for all areas of human life, is central to Islamic teaching. Islam is a religion or belief system of strict discipline and it has gained a lot of influence in the states of both the Near East and the Middle East, as well as in Indonesia and Africa.

Discussion

There is no clear consensus regarding the number of American Muslims; the 2007 Pew Forum survey estimates 2.35 million (less than 1 percent of the population). Of these, 65 percent are foreign born. In the total Muslim population, 32 percent are from Arab countries (including Iran), 18 percent from south Asia and 20 percent are native-born African American. 46 percent of the Muslim population is female (compared to 52 percent of the U.S. population). The main gender imbalance lies in the African American Muslim population, which is only 36 percent female. This is likely due to patterns of conversion, many of which happen in prison.

The relationship between African American and immigrant Muslims has been strained on occasion, with the two communities maintaining mainly separate spheres. One reason for this split is that post-1965 immigrants have generally maintained a higher socioeconomic status than African Americans. As well, African Americans see U.S. racism as a Muslim issue (it was often the impetus for their conversions) but immigrants do not, preferring to focus on injustice abroad in places like Palestine or Iraq. This tension may lessen as the next generation, who have been born in the United States and have grown up with orthodox Sunni Islam, engage in dialogue. (Pargament, 1999)

United States

The large majority of Muslims arrived in the United States after 1965, when immigration quotas discriminating against non-Europeans were lifted. The new laws favored family reunification, allowing men to bring over brides and families. Over the last 40 years, the Muslim community has grown steadily, raising the first generation of American-born ...