Muslims in America

PopulationSo remote, there argon no official, accurate figures concerning the actual spell of Moslems accompaniment in the unify States. Estimates flummox ranged from as low as slight than three trillion to as broad(prenominal) as over six jillion. This is comprehendible because the statistics creation released by the census berth do non include godliness as a category. As far as the census figures argon concerned, therefore, Islamics could defy been counted as Asians, Arabs, Africans, or even out Europeans (Mujahid). breaka guidance observers believe that the figures being released to media depend on the partiality of the source. For instance, David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, claimed that the number of Islamics living in the get in concert States as of 2001 did not scale 2.8 million a figure which was way below the estimates submitted by several researchers. This argumentation was immediately contradicted by Ibrahim Hooper.S peaking on behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Hooper argued that the report which was generated by a check into commissioned by the American Jewish Committee was a terrible attempt to discount the role of American Islamics. The debate appears inconclusive since the figures released by Harris and the American Jewish Committee might full prove inaccurate if one considers that the review was done in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks which every(prenominal)body k right aways precipitated an anti- Islamic sentiment in the demesne (Zoll).However, the exact number of the Islamic-American population is not that significant if ones project is to fully understand the Moslem-American fraternity and strain how it has assimilated and contributed to the economic and social development of the united States. They could be over six million or less than two million what is more important is the quality and the consummation of their component as well as thei r desire to exert a keep up effort aimed at change magnitude the same. Considering the effectuate of the 9/11 attacks, the commitment of Muslim-Americans to slumber and development in the sphere acquires greater significance.ProfileAlmost 80% of Muslim Americans are between 16 and 65 years of age. They belong to nursing homes with an average social status of five, suggesting a family-oriented culture. Majority of these families live in cosmopolitan centers California has the highest concentration of Muslim-Americans with 20%, followed by the state of New York (16%), Illinois (8%), and 4% from each one for the states of Indiana and New Jersey. Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia each account for three percentage of alone told Muslim-Americans.The fact that they are found in multiethnic and multicultural communities indicates that Muslim-Americans do not accept difficulty in living with people with different backgrounds and persuasions. Not all Muslim-Americans are Arabs . In fact, whole a minority of nigh 12% are of Arab descent while 24% originated from sec Asia, the majority (42%) being African-Americans. Sixty-seven percent of all Muslim-Americans are immigrants and/or descendants of immigrants. In addition, around 30% of all African-American inmates in the countrys penitentiaries are either Muslims or Muslim converts (Mujahid).Most of the Muslim-Americans are professionals with scarcely a very few venturing in reclusive military control. However, the professionals are versatile, making their contributions from different fields. umpteen of them are serving under the united States Armed Forces. As a guinea pig of fact, the number of Muslim-American servicemen exceeds one percent of the broad(a) population of the armed services of the country. round more than 10% are in the computer and engineering industries, an different 8% are employed in the medical examination field, and some 4% have ventured in the financial field (Mujahid).The Muslim-Americans are not an impoverished people. Although national figures are not currently available, the average income of a Muslim-American household in the state of Illinois was found to be $53, five hundred,.with the Arab Muslims earning the highest average income of $69,000 and the African-American Muslims earning a cut back $32,000 a year (Mujahid). In early(a) words, they are good contributors not only to the coffers of the state and federal governments in harm of income taxes but also to private blood as far as their buying power is concerned, underlying their significant contribution to the overall economy of the country.As a matter of fact, as shown by a study conducted recently by the Detroit-based JWT Advertising, reportedly the biggest advertising company in the country, the purchasing power of the Muslim-American participation in the country is estimated at around $170 billion. This is the terra firma why JWT Advertising is now collaborating with other organi zations to assist them in capturing their share of the alternatively large business of the Muslim-American community.To achieve this objective, the business firms in the Detroit area are now making use of the different aspects of the Muslim culture to win over Muslim customers. In fact, according to the director of trends spy of JWT, Ann Mack, Some marketers I am not going to name them specifically are having Ramadan advertisements, she says, and because they are speaking specifically to these populations, they go forth appeal, they will resonate and those consumers will draw to gravitate towards these brands (Elshinnawe).Some companies have been treating this let on seriously. IKEA, a Swedish company act in the furniture business even sought the help of the chairman of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. When consulted, Nasser Baydoun recalled that What we were able to do was to take them how to market to our community.how does our community get its information, how do they choose which store they go to and how does IKEA draw a working staff that is affectionate to the community.Based on this advice, IKEA put together a diversity training course of instruction for all its employees, started talking about the involve of Muslims, and required its designers to adapt their product designs to capable the needs and tastes of the Muslim community. All of these changes were aimed specifically at ensnaring the market offered by the Muslim-American community (Elshinnawe).Programs and practicesThe community takes care of its basic needs. Their religious and educational needs are being served by around 3,000 Islamic centers and mosques mixed-up all over the country, approximately 500 Islamic Sun solar day schools, at to the lowest degree 200 Islamic schools and six schools of higher(prenominal) learning. The members of the community are active in spreading the shahadah. In the Illinois area alone, a significant growth was discovered. Twenty-five perc ent of new Muslims in the state came from regeneration from other faiths. The Islamic practice of Friday prayers is, however, observed by only about intravenous feeding percent of the community.Observers could not be certain(p) whether this indicates a low religiosity among the Muslims, or whether this is due to the fact that Muslims are not being given a day off from their work to enable them to control the Friday prayer. As far as tithing is concerned, it is estimated that about $100 million is collected from Muslims every year to go to the coffers of their favored respite organizations for the purpose of helping the less fortunate. sobriety during the month of Ramadan, on the other hand, is expert by an estimated 47% of the Muslim community (Mujahid).Muslim American Society (MAS)The MAS is a charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational, not-for-profit organization. It is part of a movement which called on Muslims all over the world to retrace Islam their total way of life. In the United States, it traces its root to the Muslim Student Asociation (MSA) which was open up in 1963 to serve the needs of students and immigrants arriving in the country during the later part the mid-fifties and the early 1960s.After twenty years, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) emerged from the MAS. By 1992, the Muslim American Society was organise to provide better outreach programs and serve the increasing needs of Muslim-Americans. Its mission statement is To build an merged empowerment process for the American Muslim community through civic education, participation, community outreach, and coalition building to mold positive relationships with other institutions outside of our community, that will ensure and facilitate the protection of urbane rights and liberties for American Muslims and all Americans (Muslim American Society).The MAS, therefore, is the outflank evidence of the Muslim-Americans desire to fully integrate with the American society and do their outgo in protecting not only the rights of Muslims but Americans in general, particularly against the ostracize effects of terrorism. As FBI Director Robert S. Mueller tell in a briefing held on February 17, 2004 at the outset, I should mention that the Muslim American communities in the United States have contributed a great deal to our success. And on behalf of the FBI, I would like to thank these communities for their aid and for their ongoing commitment to preventing acts of terrorism.Works CitedElshinnawi, Mohamed. US Companies Aim Advertising at Muslim Americans. Voice ofAmerica. 19 September 2007. 30 November 2007.<http//www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-09/2007-09-19-voa31.cfm?CFID=225898127&CFTOKEN=61423474>Mujahid, Abdul Malik. (2007). Muslims in America Profile 2001. 2007. 30 November,2007Muslim American Society. 30 November 2007Zoll, Rachel. Group Muslim Population Overstated. Number of Muslims in the UnitedStates. 22 October 2001. 30 November 2007. <http//www.adherents.com/largecom/com_islam_usa.html>