Islam in America

Columbia Contemporary American Religion

by Jane Idleman Smith

Most Americans are only vaguely aware of the Muslim community in the United States and know little about the religion itself, despite Islam's increasing importance in international affairs and the rapid growth in the number of Americans who call themselves Muslims. Now a foremost authority in the field has crafted a richly textured portrait of the Muslim community in the United States today. Jane I. Smith introduces the basic tenets of the Muslim faith, surveys the history of Islam in this country, and profiles the lifestyles, religious practices, and worldviews of American Muslims. The volume pays particular attention to the tension felt by many in this community as they attempt to live faithfully, adhering to their traditions while at the same time adapting to an alien culture that appears to many Muslims to be excessively secular and materialistic. The book also covers the role of women in American Islam, the raising and educating of children, the use of products acceptable to Muslims, appropriate dress and behavior, concerns about prejudice and unfair treatment, and other issues related to life in a country in which Islam is often misunderstood.

Genres: Religion, Islam, History, Nonfiction

355 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Jane Idleman Smith is Academic Dean and Professor of History of Religions at the Iliff School of Theology. She is the author of The Concept of 'Islam' in the History of Qur'anic Studies; co-author with Yvonne Haddad of Islamic Understanding of Death and Resurrection; and editor of Women in Contemporary Muslim Society.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for a class, just not one of my favorites. Felt like many facts were pulled from nowhere, not many references to sources, and just jumping from one subtopic to the next with not much explanation. The last chapter on the post-9/11 period was more insightful than the rest.

[Faris Abdala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by my grandfather. A very good read about history of islam in America, although a bit outdated.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual and easy to read. This book gives snippets of background information on names we've heard many time but might not know much about the people themselves.

[Saira · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of questionable facts