Islamic Values in the United States: A Comparative Study

The religion of Islam is now an American phenomenon. Once thought to be primarily a way of life of the Arabs and a faith alien to the Judeo-Christian heritage of this country, it has grown to a sufficient size and must be counted as one of the prominent and rapidly-growing religious movements in America. This ethnography of immigrant Muslims considers five Northeastern communities in detail. The investigation, including numerous interviews with members of these communities, provides a highly personalized look at what it means to be a believing, practicing Muslim in America at a time when Islam is under the critical scrutiny of international news. The authors describe the institutions and leadership of American Islam, Muslim law and its applications in the American context, examining the kinds of problems that beset Muslims trying to observe the elements of their faith in a potentially difficult environment. The intimations of family life and the roles and relationships of men and women are thoroughly detailed as well.