Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam

546 Pages·2010·6.47 MB·English

by  Akbar Ahmed

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A
H N
Arab descent differ from those of other origins Advance praise for Journey into America early seven million Muslims live in
M
(for example, Somalia or South Asia)? Why are so the United States today, and their
many white women converting to Islam? How “A brilliant follow-up to Journey into Islam. Ahmed’s insights should be required E relations with non-Muslims are
D
reading for anyone grappling with national security, national identity, and national
can a Muslim become accepted fully as an strained. Many Americans associate Islam with
cohesion in today’s complex era.”
“American,” and what does that mean? He figures such as Osama bin Laden, and they worry
COLONEL DAVID KILCULLEN, author of The Accidental Guerrilla
also delves into the potentially sticky area of about “homegrown terrorists.” To shed light on
relations with other religions. For example, is “An absolutely riveting journey into an America most Americans have no idea about. this increasingly important religious group and
As the U.S. faces up to the tensions within its own Muslim communities, it could
there truly a deep divide between Muslims and counter mutual distrust, renowned scholar Akbar
J
not be more timely.”
Jews in America? And how well do Muslims get o Ahmed conducted the most comprehensive study
CHRISTINA LAMB, Washington Bureau Chief, Sunday Times
along with other religious groups, such as u to date of the American Muslim community.
Mormons in Utah? “My friend Professor Ahmed came to America in the great tradition of Alexis de r Journey into America explores and documents how
Tocqueville: a perceptive foreigner affectionately looking at America and American
n Muslims are fitting into U.S. society, placing
identity. This important new book advances his heroic, even dangerous, ‘five minutes
Journey into America is equal parts anthropological e their experience within the larger context of
to midnight’ effort to save us from our foolish mutual animosities. Pray his efforts are
research, listening tour, and travelogue. Whereas not too late.” y American identity. This eye-opening book also
Ahmed’s previous book took the reader into TONY BLANKLEY, Washington Times and Heritage Foundation offers a fresh and insightful perspective on
i
homes, schools, and mosques in the Muslim n American history and society.
“A timely and stimulating contribution to a critically important issue: the West’s (and
world, his new quest takes us into the heart of especially America’s) relationship to Islam.” t
o
America and its Muslim communities. It is ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, former National Security Adviser Following up on his critically acclaimed Journey
absolutely essential reading for anyone trying to into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization (Brookings,
A
“What a wonderful, wonderful work! This book presents great insight into the diver-
make sense of America today. 2007), Ahmed and his team of young researchers
sity and vibrancy of American Islam and its potential to help achieve the American
m
traveled for a year through more than seventy-
promise.”
five cities across the United States—from New
EBOO PATEL, Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core
e
AKBAR AHMED is the Ibn Khaldun York City to Salt Lake City; from Las Vegas to
r
“In the tradition of Alexis de Tocqueville, Akbar Ahmed has had a conversation with
Chair of Islamic Studies at American University Miami; from the large Muslim enclave in
i
and about America which illuminates an important part of our national identity.”
c
in Washington, D.C. He is also the first Dearborn, Michigan, to small, predominantly
AMBASSADOR CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN, former United
a
Distinguished Chair of Middle East and Islamic States Senator and presidential candidate white towns like Arab, Alabama. They visited
Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy, a nonresident homes, schools, and over one hundred mosques
“Journey into America is an essential pillar in the effort to build the interfaith bridge of
senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and to discover what Muslims are thinking and how
understanding. It will inform, provoke, and inspire Americans of all colors, cultures,
former Pakistani high commissioner to the they are living every day in America.
and faiths.”
United Kingdom. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KEITH ELLISON (D-Minn.)
In this unprecedented exploration of American
Muslim communities, Ahmed asked challenging
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS
questions: Can we expect an increase in home-
Washington, D.C.
grown terrorism? How do American Muslims of
Cover image: ©iStockphoto.com
www.brookings.edu
Jacket by Sese-Paul Design
AhmedMech:Layout 1 5/17/10 3:04 PM Page 1
A
H N
Arab descent differ from those of other origins Advance praise for Journey into America early seven million Muslims live in
M
(for example, Somalia or South Asia)? Why are so the United States today, and their
many white women converting to Islam? How “A brilliant follow-up to Journey into Islam. Ahmed’s insights should be required E relations with non-Muslims are
D
reading for anyone grappling with national security, national identity, and national
can a Muslim become accepted fully as an strained. Many Americans associate Islam with
cohesion in today’s complex era.”
“American,” and what does that mean? He figures such as Osama bin Laden, and they worry
COLONEL DAVID KILCULLEN, author of The Accidental Guerrilla
also delves into the potentially sticky area of about “homegrown terrorists.” To shed light on
relations with other religions. For example, is “An absolutely riveting journey into an America most Americans have no idea about. this increasingly important religious group and
As the U.S. faces up to the tensions within its own Muslim communities, it could
there truly a deep divide between Muslims and counter mutual distrust, renowned scholar Akbar
J
not be more timely.”
Jews in America? And how well do Muslims get o Ahmed conducted the most comprehensive study
CHRISTINA LAMB, Washington Bureau Chief, Sunday Times
along with other religious groups, such as u to date of the American Muslim community.
Mormons in Utah? “My friend Professor Ahmed came to America in the great tradition of Alexis de r Journey into America explores and documents how
Tocqueville: a perceptive foreigner affectionately looking at America and American
n Muslims are fitting into U.S. society, placing
identity. This important new book advances his heroic, even dangerous, ‘five minutes
Journey into America is equal parts anthropological e their experience within the larger context of
to midnight’ effort to save us from our foolish mutual animosities. Pray his efforts are
research, listening tour, and travelogue. Whereas not too late.” y American identity. This eye-opening book also
Ahmed’s previous book took the reader into TONY BLANKLEY, Washington Times and Heritage Foundation offers a fresh and insightful perspective on
i
homes, schools, and mosques in the Muslim n American history and society.
“A timely and stimulating contribution to a critically important issue: the West’s (and
world, his new quest takes us into the heart of especially America’s) relationship to Islam.” t
o
America and its Muslim communities. It is ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI, former National Security Adviser Following up on his critically acclaimed Journey
absolutely essential reading for anyone trying to into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization (Brookings,
A
“What a wonderful, wonderful work! This book presents great insight into the diver-
make sense of America today. 2007), Ahmed and his team of young researchers
sity and vibrancy of American Islam and its potential to help achieve the American
m
traveled for a year through more than seventy-
promise.”
five cities across the United States—from New
EBOO PATEL, Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core
e
AKBAR AHMED is the Ibn Khaldun York City to Salt Lake City; from Las Vegas to
r
“In the tradition of Alexis de Tocqueville, Akbar Ahmed has had a conversation with
Chair of Islamic Studies at American University Miami; from the large Muslim enclave in
i
and about America which illuminates an important part of our national identity.”
c
in Washington, D.C. He is also the first Dearborn, Michigan, to small, predominantly
AMBASSADOR CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN, former United
a
Distinguished Chair of Middle East and Islamic States Senator and presidential candidate white towns like Arab, Alabama. They visited
Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy, a nonresident homes, schools, and over one hundred mosques
“Journey into America is an essential pillar in the effort to build the interfaith bridge of
senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and to discover what Muslims are thinking and how
understanding. It will inform, provoke, and inspire Americans of all colors, cultures,
former Pakistani high commissioner to the they are living every day in America.
and faiths.”
United Kingdom. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KEITH ELLISON (D-Minn.)
In this unprecedented exploration of American
Muslim communities, Ahmed asked challenging
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS
questions: Can we expect an increase in home-
Washington, D.C.
grown terrorism? How do American Muslims of
Cover image: ©iStockphoto.com
www.brookings.edu
Jacket by Sese-Paul Design
Journey into
America
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“Ahmed’s media profile is now as high as that of any living cultural
anthropologist. One does not have to agree with all his positions to
recognize that, in the specific but crucial field of Islam and relations
between Muslims and non-Muslims, his life’s work has done much to
advance the values of anthropology. His celebrity should be welcomed as
a gift to the discipline.”
Jonathan Benthall, former Director of the Royal Anthropological
Institute, in Anthropology Today

“My friend Professor Ahmed came to America in the great tradition of
Alexis de Tocqueville: a perceptive foreigner affectionately looking at
America and American identity. This important new book advances his
heroic, even dangerous, ‘five minutes to midnight’ effort to save us from
our foolish mutual animosities. Pray his efforts are not too late.”
Tony Blankley, Washington Times and Heritage Foundation
“In the tradition of Alexis de Tocqueville, Professor Akbar Ahmed
has had a conversation with and about America which illuminates an
important part of our national identity.”
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, former United States
Senator and presidential candidate
“A timely and stimulating contribution to a critically important issue:
the West’s (and especially America’s) relationship to Islam.”
Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Adviser
“Journey into America is an essential pillar in the effort to build the
interfaith bridge of understanding. It will inform, provoke, and inspire
Americans of all colors, cultures, and faiths.”
U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)
00-0387-7 fm.indd 2 5/17/10 3:13 PM
“Akbar Ahmed’s groundbreaking work on Islam in America taps into
the moral urgency and pragmatic realism that is needed to sustain the
emerging movement for social cohesion that he so skillfully documents.
Ahmed charts the course for the next frontier in the e pluribus unum
experiment that is the United States. What he proposes is crucial for the
prospects for peace of the world.”
Reverend Dirk Ficca, Executive Director, Council for a
Parliament of the World’s Religions
“Your project is very pleasing to God. It’s truly a work of God, your
desire to bring together the people of the world to have a greater love
and respect for one another.”
Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Archbishop of Catholic Diocese,
Houston, Texas
“Journey into America is essential reading for all who care about our future
and our children’s future. It is ostensibly about Muslims in America,
but it is more fundamentally about who we are and the possibilities for
discovering our common fears and aspirations. Akbar Ahmed is a man of
vision, scholarship, courage, conviction, and profound decency.”
Brian Forst, American University, author of Terrorism, Crime
and Public Policy
“I have not read a work as insightful, erudite, and innovative on the
challenge of American identity since Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy
in America. Akbar Ahmed sets a new paradigm in the ongoing debate on
defining American identity.”
Melody Fox, Berkley Center at Georgetown University
00-0387-7 fm.indd 3 5/17/10 3:13 PM
“Akbar Ahmed is the 21st century Muslim Alexis de Tocqueville. If
one wants to know why the world and not just America needs America
to be America; if one wants stirring uplift and insight into the diversity
and experience of being Muslim in America; if one wants to appreciate
the genius of America’s Founding Fathers and the significance of
their Bill of Rights; if one wants to absorb the experiences of different
generations and different religions struggling together to understand
the contemporary world; if one wants to understand how the constantly
changing identity of the United States throughout the sweep of its
history is relevant for today’s challenges; if one wants to appreciate
how new useful knowledge can be created by what anthropologists call
“participant observation research”; if one wants practical suggestions
for building a better world at home and abroad together, then read
Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam by Akbar S. Ahmed and his
intrepid team.”
Louis Goodman, Dean of the School of International Service,
American University
“I think you’re the first one that has really tried to capture the rich
texture of America. I just think it was a brilliant idea. . . . It is going to
be very influential.”
Ambassador J. Douglas Holladay
“This is likely to be one of the most definitive works to date on the
Muslim experience in the United States. It will have a catalytic effect
and will in all likelihood stimulate a generation of scholars.”
Cornelius Kerwin, President of American University
“Professor Akbar Ahmed turns his intrepid approach to cultural dialogue
and interfaith understanding onto American society in this brilliant
follow-up to Journey into Islam. His insights should be required reading
for anyone grappling with national security, national identity, and
national cohesion in today’s complex era.”
Colonel David Kilcullen, author of The Accidental Guerrilla
00-0387-7 fm.indd 4 5/17/10 3:13 PM
“An absolutely riveting journey into an America most Americans have no
idea about. As the U.S. faces up to the tensions within its own Muslim
communities, it could not be more timely.”
Christina Lamb, Washington Bureau Chief, Sunday Times
“Journey into America is a journey ensuring that we can see all of our
American brothers and sisters, and see that they are indeed created in
the image of God.”
Senior Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Washington Hebrew Congregation
“What a wonderful, wonderful work! Akbar Ahmed has written
an important book on Islam in the United States today. With the
refreshing perspective of both Dr. Ahmed and his bright young
traveling companions, this book presents great insight into the diversity
and vibrancy of American Islam and its potential to help achieve the
American promise.”
Eboo Patel, Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith
Youth Core
“One of the most exciting and readable accounts not only of Muslim
life in the U.S., but of the context of American history more broadly.
I have learned a great deal about my own country through Akbar
Ahmed’s eyes.”
Lawrence Rosen, Princeton University
“Profound, commanding—simply brilliant. This is a powerful piece
of writing.”
Tamara Sonn, College of William and Mary, former President
of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies
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Journey into
America
the challenge of islam
akbar ahmed
brookings institution press
Washington, D.C.
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about brookings
The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to research,
education, and publication on important issues of domestic and foreign policy. Its
principal purpose is to bring the highest quality independent research and analysis
to bear on current and emerging policy problems. Interpretations or conclusions
in Brookings publications should be understood to be solely those of the authors.
Copyright © 2010 by Akbar Ahmed
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Brookings
Institution Press, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036,
www.brookings.edu
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
Ahmed, Akbar S.
Journey into America : the challenge of Islam / Akbar Ahmed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary: “Examines American identity as influenced by its founding and
history and the diverse Muslim experience in America, as well as the experience
of other religious groups, and how each has affected the other”—Provided by
publisher.
ISBN 978-0-8157-0387-7 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Muslims—United States—Social conditions. 2. Muslims—United States—
Ethnic identity. 3. Muslims—Cultural assimilation—United States. 4. Islam
and culture—United States. 5. Cultural pluralism in Islam—United States.
6. Islam and civil society—United States. 7. United States—Religious life and
customs. 8. United States—Social life and customs. I. Title.
E184.M88A39 2010
305.6’97073—dc22 2010014051
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed on acid-free paper
Typeset in Adobe Caslon
Composition by Cynthia Stock
Silver Spring, Maryland
Printed by R. R. Donnelley
Harrisonburg, Virginia
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