The American Mosque in Transition: Assimilation, Acculturation and Isolation

Abstract

This contribution explores the issues of assimilation, acculturation and radicalism in American mosques and is largely based on a 2005 study of 25 mosques, although data from three other studies are also extensively used. Analysing the demographics of mosque-goers and their views on Islamic conservatism, women, political involvement and pluralism, the essay concludes that American mosque participants are well integrated and acculturated into American society, but that they are resisting a full assimilation of intrinsic religious values and customs. Although fairly conservative, mosque participants neither exhibit radical tendencies nor the literalist Salafi/Wahhabi thinking. The American mosque, therefore, should be viewed as a partner for American law enforcement in preventing the emergence of Muslim radicalism and home-grown terrorist groups.

Keywords:

• Mosque
• Muslim
• Assimilation
• Acculturation
• Terrorism
• United States

Notes

1. Initially 50 mosques were selected from a stratified sample based on ethnicity, generated from the 2000 Mosque Study. Twenty-five mosques from 13 states actually participated. Each mosque distributed the questionnaire at Friday Prayers and other community gatherings over a three-week period. Questionnaires were accepted from attendees who were at least 15 years old. Data collection took place between May and July 2005. The 25 mosques were representative of ethnicity and region but less representative of national Muslim organisations. Almost half (48 per cent) of the MLS mosques are affiliated with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and only 8 per cent with Imam W. Deen Mohammed. In the 2000 national study, only 27 per cent of mosques were affiliated with ISNA and 19 per cent with Imam Mohammed. ISNA is the largest national Muslim organisation and the followers of Imam Mohammed constitute the largest African American Muslim organisation. Consequently the MLS is more representative of the ISNA-type mosque, which might be described as mainstream, although some label ISNA as being Wahhabi.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ihsan Bagby

Ihsan Bagby is Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky