Here is a list of 10 things that every American should think about on Independence Day (July 4th):
1. Morocco, a Muslim-majority country, is the first country in the world to recognize the independence of the United States.
2. George Washington, the first U.S. president, welcomed Muslim immigrants to the United States.
3. Benjamin Franklin, the famed diplomat and scientist, welcomed the mufti of Constantinople, now Istanbul, to come share the message of Islam in Philadelphia.
4. A handful of African American Muslims fought for Washington’s Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Today, American Muslim soldiers are buried in the U.S.’s most hallowed ground, Arlington National Cemetery.
5. Many American Muslims were enslaved before, during and after the American Revolution, a fact not known by many U.S. citizens. Slavery and racial injustice have deep roots in the country.
6. There were Muslims living on American soil long before the United States even existed. Some scholars believe that Muslims “discovered” America before Christopher Columbus.
7. By passing the U.S. Constitution, the Founding Fathers showed that they stand for freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and civic rights. They were pluralists. They believed in the idea that Muslims could be U.S. citizens.
8. Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota swore his allegiance to the U.S. Constitution on a Qur’an owned by Thomas Jefferson, who also welcomed Muslims into the fabric of American society.
9. There is a tribute to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) inside the U.S. Supreme Court building. The tribute refers to Muhammad as one of the greatest lawgivers in history, alongside Moses, among others.
10. There has never been an America without Islam.
Credit : Craig Considine
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