The deep, often overlooked roots of Islam in the American story

Cultures · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before modern immigration debates, Islam was woven into the fabric of early America. From the first nation to recognize U.S. independence to the soldiers of the Civil War, the Muslim presence spans centuries of American history, shaped by both forced arrival and intentional migration.

The history of Islam in the United as a religious presence is much older than many realize. As early as 1528, a Moroccan man named Mustafa Azemmouri was shipwrecked near Galveston, Texas. By the 16th century, many enslaved West and Central Africans brought to the Americas were Muslim—estimates suggest nearly 80% of those from certain regions. Figures like Bilali Muhammad, an enslaved Imam in the early 1800s, even authored Arabic texts on Islamic law while living in the American South.

The late 18th century saw significant diplomatic and political intersections. The Sultanate of Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States as independent in 1777, and President Thomas Jefferson famously defended religious freedom for all, including 'the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan.' Even Benjamin Franklin expressed a radical openness to religious diversity, suggesting that a missionary from Constantinople would find a pulpit in Pennsylvania.

Waves of immigration later transformed the demographic landscape. Following the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed previous quotas, the Muslim population grew significantly. Today, Islam is the third-largest religion in the U.S., representing roughly 1.6% of the population. This community is remarkably diverse: a 2017 study found no majority race among American Muslims, with the population comprising white, Asian, Arab, Black, mixed-race, and Hispanic individuals.

Despite periods of tension—such as the 1891 Supreme Court case In re Ross, which noted religious hostility—the community remains deeply integrated. About 72% of American Muslims are second-generation, and many are actively engaged in the nation's civic and economic life, from the early industrial era of the Ford Motor Company to modern community organizations.

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