How Islam Shaped America?

Have you ever wondered how the foundation of American civilization was influenced by Islamic teachings? It might surprise you to know that the American Revolution, which led to the birth of the United States, was influenced by ideas drawn from the Islamic faith.

Let's take a journey back to seventeenth-century England. At that time, England was a relatively small island with a population of less than five million people, struggling with economic difficulties, a weak state, and a society facing many challenges. The English Civil War, which raged on between Protestants and Catholics, took a heavy toll on both the economy and the population of England.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the world, the Mighty Muslim Empires, particularly the Mughal Empire in India and the Ottoman Empire based in Istanbul were dominating global affairs. Queen Elizabeth I of England, who reigned from 1558 until her death in 1603, sought the permission of Sultan Murad of the Ottoman Empire to allow English merchants, traders, and workers to engage in business and trade within the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Murad granted them this permission in 1580 AD and thus began a period of interaction between the English and the Muslim world that would last for over two centuries.

During this time, many Englishmen worked in various capacities in the Muslim East, and some of them even converted to Islam. In fact, there were more converted Muslims in the Ottoman Empire than there were original Turks. These converts were initially referred to as "Muhammadan Christians" because they held beliefs that aligned with both Muslims and Christians. They believed that Jesus was not God but a Prophet and Messiah, that the Bible had been corrupted, and that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a true Prophet sent by God to correct the corruptions in Christianity.

Later, when they faced persecution by the English Crown and were accused of being Turkish spies, many of these converts adopted the name "Unitarians." This group of Unitarians included notable figures like John Locke, Isaac Newton, Henry Stubbe, John Toland, Joseph Priestly, and Thomas Paine, some of whom eventually migrated to America and played significant roles in the fight for American independence from British rule.

You might be surprised to learn that many of America's Founding Fathers were Deists or proto-Muslim Unitarians. They were more influenced by the Unitarian Islamic beliefs than the dogmas of traditional Orthodox Christianity. Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, owned a copy of the Qur'an and studied various aspects of Islamic culture and history. He rejected the idea that Jesus was God and instead considered him to be a man, a prophet, and a Messiah. He also criticized the concept of the Trinity, believed the Bible had been corrupted, and saw organized Christianity as fraudulent. Jefferson's vision for the United States was heavily influenced by Unitarianism, and he hoped that the belief in one God would continue to thrive in the country.

Another key figure among the Founding Fathers was President John Adams, who was known for his Unitarian beliefs. He even described Prophet Muhammad as the most "sober inquirer of truth."

The Founding Fathers inherited a revised version of Christianity that was more aligned with Muslim Unitarianism and theistic rationalism than with traditional Trinitarian Christianity. Their primary struggle was against the British monarchy and its abuses, which were supported by the Church of England. As they rebelled against both the British Crown and the Church, they followed in the footsteps of earlier English Unitarians.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and James Monroe all had close associations with English and French Unitarians and Deists. Their Unitarian beliefs and appreciation for Islamic culture found expression in the inclusion of Islamic references, such as the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an, in the historical landmarks and symbols of the United States.

For example, icons in the US Supreme Court portray Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an as significant sources of American law. The Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent is presented as a model for American lawmakers in the US Capitol building. Paintings in the Library of Congress acknowledge the influence of Islam on physics and the physical sciences in America. Additionally, Islamic architectural principles were used in the construction of notable American buildings such as the US Capitol Building and the Washington National Cathedral. Some American Jewish synagogues, before the 1930s, were even designed like mosques. Temples associated with Unitarians and Shriners were built with Islamic influences, featuring Qur'anic verses and Arabic calligraphy.

All of these historical facts serve as a reminder that Islam, Prophet Muhammad, the Qur'an, and Muslim culture have been integral parts of American civilization. It is important for all Americans, both Muslim and non-Muslim, to be aware of and respect this historical legacy.

These fascinating historical details can be further explored in Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah's recently published book, "Islam and English Enlightenment: The Untold Story," which sheds light on the often-overlooked connection between Islamic influences and the shaping of America.