A Portrait in Diversity

In America, Islam has had a long history dating back to the 18^th century, when African slaves brought Islam to our shores¹.  During the 19th century, Muslim immigrants arrived from the Middle East².  In the early-to-mid 20th century, leaders like Malcolm X inspired a new group of African-Americans to convert to Islam.

Today, estimates for the numbers of Muslims living in the United States vary widely because the U.S. Census does not track religion.  They range from 2.35 million to 7 million³.  The American Muslim community is highly diverse, as the following points illustrate.

• Many Muslims in the U.S. are first- or second- generation immigrants who left their home countries in search of the American dream and a better future for themselves and their families.

• About a quarter of American Muslims are African-Americans who converted to Islam over the past seven decades.⁴.  The majority of African-American Muslims practice Sunni Islam.

• The largest ethnic group of Muslims in the United States is South Asian - of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, or Afghan descent.⁵

• Other major ethnic groups represented by Muslims in the U.S. are: Arab, African, Iranian, Turkish, Southeast Asians, Caribbean, White American and Europeans besides smaller numbers from other groups. ⁶

• There are American Muslims in nearly every community across the country, with large populations centered in California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia.⁷

Faith and Worship

As is the case with followers of other major religions, American Muslims are widely diverse when it comes to practicing their faith, with some more observant than others.  The expression of practice varies according to individual belief and the interpretation of different religious communities. Some American Muslims are born into their faith; others convert later in life.

• American Muslims have diverse praying habits – some attend prayer services at mosques weekly while some do so infrequently.⁸

• Prayers are generally led by Imams, spiritual leaders much like Christian ministers or Jewish rabbis. Prayer services may also be led by a layperson who is respected in the community.

• Many mosques today offer prayer services in English or other non-Arabic languages, a reflection of the faith’s diverse following.

• American Muslims are both Sunni and Shiite, with the majority identifying as Sunni.⁹

At Home and At Work

• Family and marriage are at the foundation of the Islamic religion, which teaches Muslims to treat their parents, children, spouses, and other family members with respect, compassion, and fairness.

• American Muslims are increasingly involved in civic participation: A recent survey of American Muslim voters found that 89% vote regularly and 64% display the U.S. flag.¹⁰  In addition, many demonstrate deep commitments to their surrounding communities by volunteering their time and money to local charities.

• American Muslims can be found in all walks of life, from teachers and journalists, police officers and athletes, to CEOs, doctors and short-order cooks. Together, they play a vibrant role in both our democracy and our economy.

• High-profile American Muslims include:

  • Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali

  • Fareed Zakaria, the editor of Newsweek International

  • Supermodel and entrepreneur Iman

  • Actor and hip hop artist Mos Def

  • NBA basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets

  • Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota.

For more information about American Muslims, please explore our "Learn More" pages, including American Muslim Organizations, American Muslim Publications, Islamic Institutions in the U.S., and Public Opinion Research.

9. "American Muslim Voters: a Demographic profile and survey of attitudes."  Council on American-Islamic Relations, October 2006.  http://www.cair-net.org/pdf/American_Muslim_Voter_Survey_2006.pdf (↑)