On September 11, 2001, airliners hijacked by members of the Islamic faith crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Thousands died. Now, some members of that same religious faith have proposed building a mosque several blocks from where the towers stood. Many people oppose this project as offensive or in bad taste. The controversy has naturally led many people to inquire about the history of Islam in the United States and to ask other questions about Muslims in that country. Because recent events have led to increased interest in this topic, this article attempts to answer in a clear and concise manner some questions about Muslims in the United States, now and in the past.
When did Muslims first come to America?
Muslims were almost certainly among the African slaves brought to America. That means Muslims may have been in America as early as the 1500s. However, by 1860, the religion among black American slaves seems to have died out.
How Many Muslims live in the United States now?
Estimates vary widely from about 2 million to 10 million or so. A 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life puts the number at 2.5 million.