God Hears: A Christian/Islam Dialog

The History of Islam in America

A Few Clarifications

What do I believe? What is our objective?

Understanding Dialog

What is our scope? Four weeks Foundations, History, Christian Examination,

Thoughts from a Muslim Have to cover foundations this week…

Sunnis and Shi’ite Islam as the umma, but several sects Who should lead Islam? Muhammad’s descendents, or other?

Imam – person leading prayer. But for Shi’ites it is also the single legitimate ruler of Islam who is Muhammad’s descendent.

Shi’ites believe Only the Imam can decisive interpretation of religious and secular laws. His

election is predetermined by God and serves as a sinless carrier of God’s law.

When the line of Muhammad was broken, they put their hopes in the Mahdi who ghaybah (hiding).

Legal scholars can interpret the Qur’an accordingly – flexible. Sunnis believe

Caliph should lead political and religious organization but is not vested with divine authority.

They are much more strict in their use of Qur’anic law. Almost restorationists.

A Brief History of Christian/Islam Dialogue Early encounters -- mutual tolerance but suspicion

O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors; they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust. (Sura 5:51)

John of Damascus (750 A.D.) considered Islam an Arian sect of Christianity.

711 Islam crossed the straits of Gibraltar into Europe 1095 – Pope Urban II calls for the liberation of Christ’s grave and

the Holy Lands thus the Crusades. Jerusalem is captured in 1099.

Middle Ages were filled with dialogue (Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), Ramon Lull (1235-1315), Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Roger Bacon (1214-1294).

Luther rejected Islam theologically, but admired their morality. “Rod of correction” – repentance not retaliation

Islam Comes To America

African Muslims were brought as slaves. (30,000) Four waves of immigration

1875-1912: after Suez Canal 1918-1922: Ottoman Empire, Dearborn, MI 1930’s: “chain” immigration 1947: Post-war students and refugees.

Formed close knit communities because Islam requires more than a “confession of faith.” It requires essential practices (the five pillars).

American Islam Wallace D. Fard (1930- disappeared 1934)

Detroit based movement among urban African-Americans. Began as in-home Bible studies. Then rented space, then built the “Temple of Islam.” Left the Bible and adopted the Qur’an.

Est. dietary laws, denounced the “white-devil,” glorified black Afro-Asia and saw Christianity as white-man’s religion of oppression.

Elijah Muhammad was successor and established the “Nation of Islam” Moved to Chicago as “Prophet of Allah” (Fard). By 1950’s there were over 100,000 followers who believed in black superiority,

eventual dominance. Non-Islamic ideas included:

Fard as manifestation of Muhammad Elijah Muhammad as Allah’s last messenger Allah is not a spirit, but a black human Heaven and hell are not eternal, but here and now with no after-life. Seven daily prayers instead of five. Racism: human origins as black man, the white race was created by an evil black

scientist “Yakub,” who removed their humanity, 6,000 years rule of earth by whites was coming to an end and will be replaced by legitimate black rule.

Created sense of identity in black communities and unifying vision of hope.

More American Islam Malcolm X

Most prominent follower of Elijah Muhammad Left Nation of Islam in 1964 after revelations about Elijah Muhammad’s misconduct. After pilgrimage to Mecca, he disavowed his racist views of religion.

“I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land—every color, and class, and rand; high officials and beggars alike—all snored in the same language.”

Changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and was assassinated shortly after his change of heart (2/22/95)

Wallace Deen (son of Elijah Muhammad) Renamed Nation of Islam as “World Community of al-Islam in the West (WCI) (

http://www.al-islam.org). Changed his name to Warith Deen. Brought the movement into orthodox Islam Was the only American invited to the 10th Ann. Islamic Conference of Ministers of

Foreign Affairs in 1978, and was designated as the “sole consultant and trustee” for the recommendation and distribution of funds to Muslim organizations dedicated to propagation of Islam in the west.

Louis Farrakhan led a major schism from Warith Deen and continues to teach the “Nation of Islam” mythology of black dominance.