Despite all the recent attention given the Muslim community
in the United States, many adherents feel their religion and
culture have been misrepresented and misunderstood — both
by the media and the nation at large. Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, an
author and professor of law at the University of Richmond, strips
away some of the stereotypes and helps illuminate a faith and
people who are anything but one-dimensional.
Dr. Azizah Y. al-Hibri, Professor of Law
(Azizah al Hibri on NPR's TALK OF THE NATION)
Islam is a religion of many different sects and many different
interpretations, even within its sects. We do not have a church
structure. We do not have one person who interprets the religion
for us and tells us what to follow. And the relationship in
Islam is between the Muslim directly and his or her god. Part
of that liberty means -- as we know with First Amendment rights
in the United States -- that there will be risks that certain
people will read the Koran and understand it in ways that are
different from the way I would understand it. When I read the
Koran, it is very clear to me that some of the basic tenets
of the Koran have to do with basic consultative democracy."
Muslims
in America
Num. of Muslims in the U.S.:
7 million
Num. of American Muslims associated with a mosque:
2 million
Num. of mosques in the U.S.:
1,209
% of regular mosque participants who are male:
75%
% of regular mosque participants who are African-American:
