----- Original Message ----- From: "Lina Dahlan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 1:10 PM Subject: [ppiindia] Contributions to America
> Contributions to America > by Jawed Anwar > Editor in Chief > > Historical evidence suggests that there were Muslims within the > original, native, Ameri-Indian community and that the first group of > immigrant Muslims reached the Americas in 1312 (180 years before > Columbus). From Mali and other parts of West Africa, Muslim > explorers arrived via the Gulf of Mexico for exploration of the > American interior, using the Mississippi River as their access > route. Abubakri was one of the first to set sail to America from > Africa (according to Muslims in America by Amir Nashid Ali > Muhammad). > Is this the history according to Silibi? > In 1492 when Columbus arrived here, he was strongly influenced by > the writings of 13th century Arab geographer Al-Idrissi, who served > as an advisor to King Roger of Sicily. Columbus arrived with Al- > Idrissi's book and Muslim captains, crews, and translators. He had > two Muslim captains: Martin Alonso Pinzon and his brother Vicente > Yanex Pinzon. The Pinzon family was related to Abuzayan Muhammad > III, the Moroccan Sultan of Marinid dynasty (1196-1465) (ibid). > > Columbus himself admitted in his papers that while his ship was > sailing near Gibara on the northeast coast of Cuba, he saw a mosque > on top of a beautiful mountain. Ruins of mosques and minarets with > inscriptions of Quranic verses have been discovered in Cuba, Mexico, > Texas, and Nevada. A historian, Dr. Berry Fell, in his books > America, BC representing before Columbus) and Saga America provided > evidence of early presence of Muslims in America. > > The Muslim country of Morocco was the first to recognize and > acknowledge America's independence in 1777. Morocco was the first > nation to sign a peace treaty in 1786 with America, followed by > Algeria in 1795, Tripoli in 1796, Tunis in 1797, and Muscat (Oman) > in 1833. All the earliest signatories were Muslim countries. During > 1788 to 1789, President George Washington exchanged letters with the > Sultan Mohammad III about peace and asked the Sultan to plead with > authorities in Tunis and Tripoli to obtain the right of free > navigation for American ships in the Mediterranean. In this way, > American ships entered the sea with the support of Muslims. > > There are hundreds of examples of contributions of Muslim immigrants > to building the nation in all spheres of American life; here are > just a few: > > The United States Cavalry hired a Muslim by the name of Hajj Ali to > experiment with breeding and raising camels in the deserts of > Arizona. Hajj Ali came from Syria in the mid 1850's, and in 1868 he > went to work prospecting and scouting for the government. He was > given the quaint, American nickname "Hi Jolly" as he became a local > folk hero in Quartzsite, AZ, where he died in 1902. His tombstone is > a stone pyramid with a camel on top of it (according to Muslims in > America by Amir Nashid Ali Muhammad). > > An African immigrant Muslim, Muhammad Ali Ben Said (1833-1820), > joined the 55th Regiment of Massachusetts Colored Volunteers. > Serving in Company 1, Muhammad rose from corporal to sergeant by > July 16, 1863 (ibid). > > In 1875, the wave of Muslim immigrants started coming; the first > small group came from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Punjab > (Pakistan and India). Some of the Syrian-Lebanese Arabs settled on > lower Washington Street and in Brooklyn across the East River around > Atlantic Avenue and South Brooklyn (ibid). > > The agricultural lands of America were cultivated and raised by > African slaves; the original religion of most of them was Islam. > African American Muslims were among the major working force in > building America. > > Muhammad Ali, a boxer, is one of the most famous and world- > recognized personalities of the twentieth century. Three times World > Heavyweight Champion, Muhammad Ali increased the prestige of > America. Other Muslim boxers --Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa, Dwight > Braxton (Muhammad Qawi Ali), for examples have magnified the name > and fame of America. > > Kareem Abdul Jabbar, a member of basketball Hall-of Fame, is one of > the greatest basketball players of all times. Other famous Muslim > basketball players are Jamal Wilkes, Walt Hazzard, Charlie Scott > (Shaheed abdul Aleem), Spencer Haywood, Hakeem Olajuwoon, Mahmoud > Abdul Rauf, Shareef Abdur Rahim, Larry Johnson, TariqAbdul Wahad, > and Craig Hodges. Other examples of outstanding athletes among > Muslims include Ahmad Rashad, former receiver for the Minnesota > Vikings and now a national sportscaster; Abdus-Salam, a former > tackle for the New York Jets; Raghib (Rocket) Ismail, a receiver for > L.A. Raiders; Salaam, a running back for Chicago Bears; Karim Abdul > Jabbar of the Miami Dolphins; Efram Salaam of the Atlanta Falcons; > and Mustapha Muhammad of the Colts. > > Abdul Hakeem Muhammad, a computer scientist with the IRS, won the > Department of the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service for > his work in the field of computers open system standards and > technical architectural environment. This is one of the highest, > most rare, and unusual Congressional awards won by an IRS employee. > > Dr. Fazlur Rahman, Khan, a Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant, and > outstanding architect, designed Chicago's John Hancock Center in > 1970, the One Shell Plaza in Houston in 1971, and the Sears Tower in > Chicago in 1973. > > El-Hajj Malik el-Shabbaz (Malcolm X) was a leader of international > fame, and his legacy continues to influence Americans today. There > have been dozens of famous Muslims in Jazz music, arts, and other > entertainment fields, and American Muslim contributions are visible > in every walk of life from the most sensitive and military areas to > more common jobs. > > Presently, there are more than 5,000 Muslims in uniform on active > duty in the military. A Pakistani American in uniform, Azhar > Mahmood, recently died in the War in Iraq and is now buried in Long > Island, New York. > > American Muslim women are also adding their names to the list of > distinguished inventors, scientists, engineers, etc. Among them is > Lubna Ahmad, a young biomedical engineering student who recently > invented a noninvasive sensor for obesity and diabetes management. > > In the First World War, Muslim states were allied with America, even > against the Muslim State of Turkey. In the Second World War, Muslims > were again allied with the US, with all their political, economic, > and military resources. In the Cold War with the Soviet Union, > Muslim states were allies of America. Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey > were the front line states against the Soviet Union; they were > vulnerable and exposed to the danger of nuclear assault of the > enemy. Till now, US military bases were all over the Muslim world, > allied with America. > > Since 1945, all the natural resources of the Muslim World have been > at the disposal of American companies. Presently, only one Muslim > country, Saudi Arabia, has an investment in America that is more > than one trillion dollars. > > At the society level, Muslims have the lowest divorce rate, lowest > abuse rate, lowest domestic violence, lowest criminal percentage, > and Islam gives a model for an ideal family. Muslims, making up the > second largest religious minority of the country, contribute moral > values to the society and thus reduces the crime rates. Masajid > (mosques) play a great role in minimizing crime, drug usage, and > other social evils. Muslims living in America have helped create a > bridge between America and the most resourceful Muslim worlds. > > In a nutshell, Muslims in America were always an asset and never a > liability. > > They are always well-wishers and benefactors of America. Any nation > that, instead of rewarding its benefactors, begins punishing them > instead invites the wrath of God. I request that all citizens of > America stand with Muslims in these difficult times and > differentiate between lies and truths so that together we may build > a better America based on truth, justice, and a Godly American dream. > > Jawed Anwar > Editor in Chief > Muslims Weekly > Website: www.muslimsweekly.com > > > > > > *************************************************************************** > Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia > yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. http://www.ppi-india.org > *************************************************************************** > __________________________________________________________________________ > Mohon Perhatian: > > 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) > 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. > 3. Reading only, http://dear.to/ppi > 4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. 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