[Managing Editors note: Recently State of Formation collaborated with staff and writers at the Interfaith Youth Core around this question: What do you expect from contemporary leaders of your religious and philosophical traditions? College students blogged for IFYC with their own ideas and thoughts and were responded to by State of Formation writers. The first such exchange is between IFYC writer Aamir Hussain and State of Formation Contributing Scholar Rose Aslan.]

In response to Speaking Up by Aamir Hussain:

as-salam alaykum Aamir,

Thank you for your thoughtful reflection, you bring up an important issue, which is one of the biggest challenges facing American Muslims nowadays: getting other Americans to realize that we are just as American as they are. As American-born Muslims, we are tasked with the responsibility to change the way Islam is perceived by mainstream America as well as to change American Muslim institutions from within. American Muslim youth have grown up in America, with varying degrees of religiosity at home, just like American youth from other religious traditions– the only difference is that some Americans treat them as if they were foreigners in their own country. At the same time, not all Muslim leaders do a good job of embracing the fact that American Muslims are fully American: some leaders preach the belief an isolationist philosophy, threatening that if Muslims fail to isolate themselves and heir children from non-Muslim society, they will fall into unbelief and sinful ways. But there is hope, there is a growing movement of Muslims, both native-born and naturalized citizens who have been contributing to the emerging discourse of creating a truly American Muslim identity.

Native-born American Muslim leaders, such as Hamza Yusuf, Zaid Shakir, Usama Canon, Khalid Latif, Sherman Jackson, Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Mohamed Magid, and many others not only encourage American Muslims to embrace their national identity, but also stress awareness about the long history of Muslims in America. Scholars of Islam in America, such as Edward Curtis,  Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, and Sylviane Diouf have worked to present measured histories of the centuries-old narratives of Muslims in America. From the West African slaves who attempted to hold on to their religious beliefs and practices under pressure from their slave owners, to Turks and Arabs from the Ottoman Empire who traveled to the US to start new lives as peddlers in the Mid West, to generations of African American Muslims who entered Nation of Islam, some later converting to Sunni Islam under the influence of Warith al-Deen Muhammad. Scholars have also highlighted the history of Muslim immigrants who hail from diverse parts of the world, including Pakistan, Egypt, China, Morocco and many others as well as the growing trend of converts who come from a rainbow of ethnic and religious backgrounds. All of these studies bear witness to the community that

As you mentioned, the American Muslim population is indeed diverse, it is perhaps the most diverse community of Muslims in the world. In some multicultural mosques, it is possible to pray next to a Guyanese of Indian background, an Indian from Kerala, a Tunisian from Sfax, a Chinese Muslim from Xi’ian, an Iranian from Shiraz, a Gambian from Serrekunda, a Mexican-American from the Bronx, and a Buddhist Sufi Muslim from Portland.

Muslim leaders need to embrace the rich diversity of our Muslim community and to recognize the multiplicity of expressions of Islam instead of pushing a monolithic view of Islam that greatly limits the potential of Islam in America. Not only do American Muslims need to embrace the diversity of their community, but like you propose, Aamir, Muslim leaders need to acknowledge this diversity and work to spread this image of Islam. The media also needs to focus on more positive portrayals of Muslims instead of sensationalized portrayals of radical Islam, and the Muslim community can help create this change.

I imagine that the portrayal of Muslims in the media as well as general perception in America will transform dramatically within the next ten to twenty years, thanks to both Muslims and non-Muslims who are patiently working behind the scenes to make this happen. Their efforts are still seen as suspect by many in the community, but as the youth gain positions of prominence within the Muslim community, the marginal will become part of the mainstream, and mosques will become a refuge where all Muslims as well as non-Muslims are welcomed without judgment.

Wa Allahu allam (and God knows best!)

(Photo credit Rose Aslan.)