The shahadah is comprised of two fundamental faith statements in Islam that “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” This spiritual calling is expressed through auditory calls to prayers or adhan five times a day.... Read more about The Call of Islam

Islam affirms submission and the alignment of life missions with God’s will. Practiced by more than one billion people in the world, Islam recognizes God the Creator; Muhammad, the final messenger; and the Qur’an, God’s final word.... Read more about Islam Means Being “Muslim”

The Qur’an is a sacred book for Muslims, revealed to Prophet Muhammad and written in Arabic. Literally “recitation,” the Qur’an is primarily an oral text, preserved through listening and reciting.... Read more about Qur’an: The Word of God

The Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation during an annual devotion at Mount Hira outside of Mecca. The Prophet’s message of tauhid (unity and oneness of God) challenged the polytheistic 7th century Meccan society; Muhammad was met with prosecution. His migration (hijrah) from Mecca to Medina signified the establishment of a model Muslim community and the beginning of the Islamic calendar.... Read more about Muhammad: The Messenger of God

Diverse traditions within Islam have different interpretations of the Qur’an, hadith (teachings of Prophet Muhammad), and views on Islamic leadership. Some of the traditions are: Sunni, Shi’i, and Sufi movements.... Read more about One Ummah with Many Views

The differences between Sunni and Shi’i Muslims stem from questions about Muhammad’s successors. Shi’i groups historically argued that Ali was Muhammad’s successor, and continued recognizing successors from within the Prophet Muhammad’s family. Sunni groups historically argued for Abu Bakr al-Siddiq as Muhammad’s successor, and continued to select leaders from across the community.... Read more about Sunni and Shi’i Interpretations

Sufism refers to the inner dimension of Islam which aims to attain mystical knowledge and love of God through meditative practices, or dhikr, ethical cultivation, and purification of the heart and self. Though Sufism began with individuals, Sufi communities, or tariqahs, were formed around them providing a template for spiritual guidance. Poetry, art, liturgies, biographical and philosophical works, and other forms of Sufi literature were also produced. Today, Muslims practice Sufism in a variety of modes and mediums.... Read more about Sufism: Seeking God

Shari’ah refers to the system of law, ethics, and guidelines in Islam that govern a Muslim’s practical life. Shari’ah began with the Prophet Muhammad, and was later codified and taught by the ‘ulama. Along with schools, judges, courts, and rulers, the Shari’ah developed into a complex network. Today, the Shari’ah is applied in a variety of contexts - both at the state and individual level - which varies in different countries and amongst Sunni and Shi’a denominations.... Read more about Shari’ah: Following the Straight Path

Among Sunni Muslims, the key practices of Islam are referred to as “The Five Pillars” and include: shahadah (statement of faith), salat (prayer five times a day), zakat (giving a portion of one’s possession, usually 2.5% of annual wealth, through local mosques or organizations), sawm (fasting from sunrise to sunset in the month of Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to the Ka’bah in Mecca during the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah). Though these five key practices are observed by other Muslim denominations, Shi’a Muslims add others like khums (yearly tax given to the Imams) and walayah (acceptance and adoration of the Imams). Islamic practices are also constantly in dialogue with societal changes and advancements.... Read more about Islamic Practices

Islamic beliefs inform the worldview, lifestyle, and practices of Muslims worldwide. Amongst Sunni Muslims, the key tenets of faith are belief in: God, angels, revelations, prophets and messengers, the Day of Judgement, and divine decree. While Shi’a Muslims generally agree on these beliefs, they also add Imamate as a foundational tenet.... Read more about Islamic Beliefs

From the 7th through the 18th centuries, Islam spread across the globe, as Muslim rulers expanded their control throughout North Africa, West Africa, and Central Asia. During this time Muslim rulers, soldiers, traders, Sufis, scholars, poets and architects all contributed to the shaping of distinctive Islamic cultures. Across the wide-reaching Islamic world, transregional Islamic culture mixed with local traditions to produce distinctive forms of statecraft, theology, art, architecture, and science.... Read more about Expansion of Islamic Civilization

European colonization from the 17th through the 20th century often replaced the religious foundation of Islam and Islamic educational, legal and cultural institutions. The late 19th century saw movements for independence in different Muslim cultures. Current post-colonial states reflect a growing diversity, some declaring themselves secular states (Turkey), with others adhering to a strict codification of Shari’ah law in the national legal system (Pakistan).... Read more about The Rise of European Colonialism

Among other factors, diversity in Islam emerges from revival/reform movements within the religion, and from Muslims’ experiences of migration. Some examples of revival/reform movements in Islam are traditional reformers, modernist reformers, and strict adherents to the shari’ah. In America, the over 3 million Muslims prove the truth in the adage “Islam is one, Muslims are many.”... Read more about Resurgence and Migration: The Muslim World Today

The first significant waves of immigration of Muslims to North America came through three centuries of the slave trade. In the midst of brutal treatment and forced conversion to Christianity, many African Muslims preserved their religious identities.... Read more about The First American Muslims

For America's first Muslims, prayer took place in private homes or rented public spaces which grew into Islamic associations. As Muslims began to establish roots in America, their communities started to build American earliest mosques in Maine, North Dakota, Michigan, and Indiana between 1915 and 1925.... Read more about Early American Mosques

Prominent African American Muslim leaders and organizations include Noble Drew Ali (founder of the Moorish Science Temple), Ahmadiyyah missionaries from India, and the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in America led by Elijah Muhammad. Some of these groups are distanced from the Muslim ummah due to teaching that was contradictory to the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. Black Muslims now make up over 20 percent of the American Muslim population.... Read more about African American Islam Reborn

The number of Muslim immigrants in the United States increased after World War II and again after the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 eliminated the previous quota system based on national origins. Efforts at unity were illustrated by the opening of Islamic centers and Muslim student associations across the country.... Read more about New Immigration and the First Organizations

The history of the Nation of Islam continued in the mid-1960s under the leadership of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed. Mohammed focused on reforming the organization with an emphasis on orthodox Islam and interracial and interreligious collaborations. Other important African-American Islam organizations emerged, such as the Dar-ul Islam movement and the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA).... Read more about African-American Islam Reformed: “Black Muslims” and the Universal Ummah

Increasing internal diversity of Muslims in the United States after 1965 led to the creation of national organizations such as the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the North American Shi’a Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities (NASIMCO). Since then, a variety of organizations and institutions have developed–including social, educational, financial, legal, and charitable efforts–that contribute solutions to wider social issues and build and sustain indigenous American Muslim communities from the ground up. ... Read more about Emerging Islamic Infrastructure

The history of adhan (call to prayer) began with a vision in a dream by one of Prophet Muhammad’s followers and a freed African slave serving as the first muezzin. Adhan calls Muslims around the world to pray five times a day. It can be broadcast around the neighborhood, recited from within the mosque building, or sounded from a sidewalk.... Read more about The Call To Prayer

Daily prayer (salat) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Salat begins with ritual ablution (wudhu) as preparation for prayer. Muslims pray facing the qiblah (direction of Mecca), often indicated in mosques by a mihrab (niche in the wall). Fridays and holidays like Eid include performance of other types of salat.

... Read more about Salat: Daily Prayers

Jum’ah, refers to when Muslims gather for congregational worship during Friday midday prayer time. Prayer is followed by a sermon (khutbah) from an imam. Friday prayer is required only for men, but women may attend. In the U.S., Friday prayer brings together Muslims of many diverse backgrounds under one community.... Read more about Jum’ah: The Friday Prayer

Masjid (plural: masajid) means mosque in Arabic. The interior of a masjid often includes a mihrab (prayer niche in the wall facing Mecca) and a minbar (leading staircase and pulpit for the imam to deliver his sermon, the khutbah). Exteriors often include a minaret (tower) from which the adhan, or call to prayer, is recited. In the U.S., mosques incorporate a variety of architectural designs and influences.... Read more about Mosque, Minaret and Mihrab

Islamic religious arts refrain from depicting symbols, images, and physical representations of God, prophets, and created beings. Islamic calligraphy, which goes back to the artistry of ‘Ali b. Ali Talib, grows with elaborate Arabic scripts and ornamentation. This religious art enhances the importance of Qur’anic verses, the Prophet’s statements, poetry, and other sacred sayings, and is used to adorn mosques, tombs, plates, and other objects.... Read more about Calligraphy and Islamic Design

Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown during the month of Ramadan. In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking, those who fast also restrain themselves from evil thoughts, speeches, and actions. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan and is one of the most anticipated Islamic holidays.... Read more about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The Hajj occurs in the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah and symbolizes the unity of the Muslim ummah. During the time of the pilgrimage, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

... Read more about Pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha

For the first ten days in the month of Muharram, Shi’i Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Husayn (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) and the other marytrs of Karbala. In places like Dearborn, Michigan, Shi’i Muslims recite or enact the martyrdom story (taziya) to commemorate the sacrifice. Wearing black, some women also gather on the seventh day for the “marriage of Kaseem” mourning procession.... Read more about Shi’i Remembrance of Husayn

To mark their commitment to embrace Islam, a new Muslim performs the cleansing of their entire body. They then recite the statements of shahadah in front of two witnesses, proclaiming that “there is no god but God and Muhammad is God’s Messenger.” Da'wah is the effort to present information about Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims.... Read more about Becoming a Muslim

Muslims treat their holy book, the Qur’an, with respect. To handle the Qur’an, Muslims must perform a ritual ablution, and they cannot put the Qur’an on the floor. Recitation of the Qur’an is encouraged, beginning in early childhood, through memorization at home, Islamic schools, and hifz classes. Professional reciters, or qaris, perform in major venues and act as imams for mosques around the world.

... Read more about Qur’an and Qur’anic Recitation

Sufism emphasizes the inner life of Islam and the practice of remembrance (dhikr) under the guidance of a spiritual master (shaykh or pir). Different Sufi orders have varying relationships to other Muslims, and the flexibility and accessibility of Sufism often provides an entry for Americans to embrace Islam.

... Read more about Remembrance of God: The Sufi Circle

Across the globe, including in the United States, Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, is celebrated on the twelfth day of the month Rabi’ al-Awwal. Celebrations include festivals, prayer services, recitations of poetry and litanies, as well as religious gatherings. Celebrations of the Mawlid in America and distinctly English forms of poetry, songs, and literature shows the increasing importance of Mawlid al-Nabi amongst American Muslims. ... Read more about Birthday of the Prophet: Mawlid al-Nabi

Technological advances have affected Muslims no less than the rest of the world. There are now Muslim talk radio shows, television shows that tell specifically Islamic stories, and online editions of the Qur’an and Hadith.... Read more about Muslim Media

Halal ("permitted" in Arabic) refers to Islamic dietary restrictions. Along with proscribing what not to eat (haram or “forbidden” in Arabic), halal requires minimal suffering and the pronouncement of the name of God during the slaughter of an animal. Though halal food items and restaurants were limited early on, today they have become a staple on the American culinary map. The variety of halal ethnic cuisines reflects the diversity of the American Muslim community. ... Read more about Halal Food

Islam is not monolithic; understanding Islam means learning about the diversity of its streams. Ethno-religious mosques and organizations practice Islam while celebrating the varied ethnic cultures of immigrant Muslim communities. However, linguistic and cultural differences can cause de facto divisions among diverse groups.... Read more about Unity and Diversity

Muslims take different approaches to political involvement. Some Muslims resist political participation, proposing the separation of dar al-Islam (governance based on Islamic norms) and dar al-Kufr (non-Islamic governance or “the abode of unbelief”). Others started participating after strong anti-Muslim sentiments arose in America after September 11th, 2001. Many choose to participate in politics to debunk stereotypes, to fight against hate, and to promote social inclusion and civic engagement.... Read more about Muslims and American Politics

One of the concerns that Muslim parents and communities have is addressing the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual needs of younger generations throughout their education. Concerns about students’ spiritual formation in an environment that does not emphasize religious practices led to the creation of independent Islamic schools, often affiliated with mosques.... Read more about Public Versus Private

Muslim chaplains provide faith-based counsel and guidance in institutional contexts (the military, schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities, among others). Historically, Muslim chaplains grew through the da'wah practice of prison ministries, particularly through the Nation of Islam and the activism of Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). Today, Muslim chaplains form networks through various chaplaincy organizations.... Read more about Muslim Chaplaincy in the U.S.

The American media, including television programs, films, and newspapers, propagated negative portrayals of Islam and presented anti-Muslim rhetoric uncritically even before 9/11, though the issue intensified after the U.S. declared its “Global War on Terror.” Muslim individuals—and non-Muslims mistaken for Muslims—experience discrimination, harassment, and physical attacks, while mosques and Islamic centers are often vandalized. In the wake of hate attacks, Muslim organizations like the Islamic Circle of North America, the Council of American-Islamic Relations, the American Muslim Council, various mosque and Muslim media often utilize different outlets (open houses, pamphlets, call centers, TV series) to address stereotypes.... Read more about Struggling Against Stereotypes

Muslim youth struggle with the interaction between the varied identities they might possess, desires to observe Islamic practices in the middle of non-Muslim communities, the impacts of stereotypes and prejudice, and intergenerational differences and conflicts. National and local Muslim organizations provide youth with mentorship, adult leadership, and guidance in pursuing lifestyles that are compatible with Islam.... Read more about Muslim Youth: The Next Generation

Muslim individuals continue to respond to Islamophobia and seek out open dialogue with broad non-Muslim communities. Some choose political activism, working with organizations such as the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) or the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Some choose public and interfaith dialogues, opening up their homes to non-Muslims, inviting others to introductory classes on Islam, or co-hosting events with people from other religious traditions.... Read more about Islam in America Post 9/11