Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States today. According to one recent survey, there are 1,209 mosques in America, well over half founded in the last 20 years. Between 17 and 30 percent of American Muslims are converts to the faith.
At the center of both traditional American life and the lives of the generally more recent Muslim immigrants is the family. As Shahed Amanullah, an engineer who lives in San Francisco, California, puts it, ” American values are, by and large, very consistent with Islamic values, with a focus on family, faith, hard work, and an obligation to better self and society.”
This booklet is a brief introduction to a complex subject, an attempt to explore in words and images the extraordinary range and richness of the way American Muslims live. That point of cross-cultural commonality — the family — is where we begin.
Enter website here.
Assalam-alaikam Sister Umm Nassim,
I think Brother Shahed Amanullah makes a very good point. Something similar was said by the brother in the excellent Channel 4 show “Muslim in Texas”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmRqDMUA4P0
I have long htought something similar about traditional values being compatable with English values: fairness, justice, social responsibility.
But then the best values of any society would align with Muslim values wouldn’t they? What do you think?
Wa alaikum assalam,
Just my point. Many “best” values in different societies would align with Muslim values. Within Muslim societies, however, many times cultural differences interfere with the Ummah coming together. I already sense differences between Europe and the United States, let alone all the other countries and regions! I was just reading your entry on languages…language is just an important part of our culture, yet it can create so many differences among us. This reminds me…do you have any good Islamic books recommendations for the little ones?