The post-9/11 America has brought a mixed bag of curse and blessing for American Muslims during the last nine years. Paradoxically, they have witnessed the ever-growing marginalization of their communities and the widening awareness about their culture and history among mainstream Americans.

It is true, the post-911 America has become less friendly to Muslims to the extent that they have replaced Hispanics, Native Americans and Afro Americans as targets of hate and discrimination. If you ask, almost every American Muslim has a story of discriminative treatment ranging from just a nasty gaze, casual comments to work place harassment, burning mosques and even physical attacks. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), for instance, reported a three-fold increase in incidents of harassment, violence and discriminatory treatment of Muslims since 2002. Additionally, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll in 2004 indicated that 46% Americans believe Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence among its believers.

Amidst this ongoing debate, American Muslims are questioning why they are increasingly becoming the target of hate and discrimination when majority of the 9/11 attackers came from abroad. In fact, a predominant majority of American Muslims is moderate, professional, highly educated and peace loving. Most are working professionals positively contributing and enriching the American society in economy, education, technology and other professional fields. A 2004 Zogby survey, for example, found that 59% of the Muslims surveyed had an undergraduate college degree, a higher percentage than the national average of 17.5%. A Wall Street Journal editorial reported that one in three Muslims have an income of $75,000 per year.

The Muslim community in the U.S. is uniquely diverse. It has 36% second-generation Muslims born in the U.S. while 64% came from 80 Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries. The three major communities are South Asians (32%), Arabs (16%), and African Americans (20%). Because the U.S. Census Bureau does not collect data on religious affiliation there are several estimates of the Muslim population in the U.S ranging from 1.2 million to 7 million. A more realistic estimate, however, includes four to five million Muslims living in the United States. Muslim communities in general are known for their economic independence, hard work, education, strong family values and high professional ethics.

As in other communities, Muslims also comprise liberal, moderate and conservative groups. Although they practice religious rituals more seriously a large majority is moderate and progressive. While keeping their cultural values, according to one poll, majority of Muslims in the United States are liberal democrats.

The 9/11 attack has also exposed the sharp rift in the American society in treating Muslims. While the progressives and moderates embrace Muslims on equal grounds with respect and grace, increasing incidents of bias and maltreatment of Muslims also identifies a conservative wave of rhetoric against them. When some of us mistakenly thought the discrimination against Muslims has diminished nine years after 9/11, American intellectuals and political leaders are challenging the loyalty of Muslims to America and stereotyping them as violent and disruptive communities. The current issue of establishing a Muslim center in New York in a close proximity to Ground Zero is a case in point. Conservative political leaders including Sarah Palin, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich are busy igniting the hysteria against Muslims. While some of it is part of the forthcoming election rhetoric, it intentionally or unintentionally multiplies the already existing paranoia.

Despite this hatred, the American society is still more tolerant to Muslims as compared to European countries where public hatred has now transformed into legal restriction on Muslim places of worship in Switzerland and banning the dress code for Muslim women in France. A positive outcome of the 9/11 attack, however, was an increasing demand to know more about the Islamic world. Ironically it took a terrorist attack for an average American to learn more about Muslims and their cultural heritage. In addition to an unprecedented growth in opportunistic and self-styled experts, both Muslims and White Americans, there are genuine channels of information on the Muslim world.

American universities are now offering more courses on Islam and new academic programs have emerged on Muslim countries and societies. Charles Kuzman and Carl W. Ernst who studied the recent surge of academic interest in Muslims at universities, reported a 4% increase of doctoral theses on Islam since 2001 in American institutions of higher education. They also found that during the last five years 252 articles, 2.3% of total journals were published in selected eight academic journals on various topics of Islam.

A similar pattern was found in establishing new departments of Islamic studies at various universities. University of California-LA, Ohio State University and University of California, Berkeley have Islamic studies programs since 1960s, and 90s. In addition to these, a number of new programs have emerged at several universities after 9/11 including George Mason, Stanford, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Harvard, Michigan State, the University of Washington, San Francisco State, and Lake Forest College. Some of these programs are part of the Middle East studies departments while others are in international centers, religious studies departments or college of arts and sciences.

Despite their diversity and economic strength, American Muslims have not yet emerged as an economic and political force. Indications are, however, the second generation of young Muslims would like to find a rightful place in the American society. To attain this, they might have to focus on the following issues:

Collaboration

Muslims across America have to establish collaborative links across ethnic, cultural and national boundaries not only with their own communities but other American communities at large. While keeping a strong connection with their own communities they also have to connect with other Muslim communities nationwide. After 9/11 a number of political and religious organizations have emerged on the national scene including the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslims generally are divided on ethnic lines. About 2,000 mosques have emerged in different cities, most of these have become social and religious centers for a single Muslim community, isolated from others. Professional, business, academic and scientific umbrella organizations have yet to emerge to connect Muslims from all over the world to each other.

Political Participation

Muslims have yet to learn the social, legal and political infrastructures of American society at large. While a strong presence of other communities in politics is quite evident from their elected leaders, congressmen and even governors, only two Muslim congressmen have been recently elected.

This is changing however. In a recent Zogby poll, 86% Muslims said it is important for them to participle in politics. Muslim identity is important for them in voting decisions as nearly seven in ten said being a Muslim is important in voting. However, despite this enthusiastic voting trend their participation in the political process is not very impressive. This voting enthusiasm has to be transformed into strong participation in the election process as a candidate or as a party member.

Media and Image Building

Channels of news media have an important role in creating a positive image of communities in this age of globalizations. Effectively using media and communication channels not only to provide the Muslim points of view across but to engage in a positive dialogue with other communities has to be part of the Muslim manifesto.

Science and Research

Most Muslims in the United States have a noticeable presence in technology and health related professions. Besides strengthening their presence in science, math and engineering, they need to find their way into research, teaching and higher education.

As it looks, the “Clash of Civilization” phenomenon has made its way from academic institutions to public forums in the United States to the extent that Muslim bashing has become a socially accepted behavior. Surprisingly, the American society also looks eager to know more about Muslims and it will be interesting to see how American Muslims will use this opportunity to gain a respectable place in the American society at large.

Dr. Qaisar Abbas