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Muslims in American History: A Forgotten Legacy |
Author: Jerald F. Dirks
Published: 2006-09-01 |
List price: $17.95
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Familiar History with a Muslim Twist
The history written about here is familiar to many of us but, I was not fully aware of the Muslim connection.
Mr. Dirks has organized the book in a chronological format starting with the first recorded voyage in 889 CE of Khashkhash ibn Saeed ibn Aswad, who sailed West from the same port that Columbus launched his 3 ships, to Muslims in modern day America. The topics covered are Muslims in the Americas in the pre-Columbian period, the European explorers, the slave trade, Muslims in Native American tribes, the Melungeons, Islamic residuals In the West and Muslims in 20th century North America. The first four chapters covering the pre Columbian period to the Slave trade were the most interesting and surprising.
I found the most interesting accounts were related to the Slave trade. Mr. Dirks writes about the approximately 20 million Muslims who were taken as slaves from Africa. The vast majority of these were highly educated individuals such as the Ulema (religious leaders) Hafiz-ul-Quran (those who memorized the Quran) and military and political leaders. As a result Muslims were responsible for many of the slave revolts that occurred in the European Colonies in the West. So much so that Spain passed a law forbidding slave traders from enslaving Muslims from Muslim parts of Africa. It was an amusing story.
Mr. Dirks also gives considerable attention to individual biographies of Muslims who were captured as slaves, and since I enjoy reading biographies, I felt the savage human cost of slavery in general and the impact to Muslim slaves in particular.
All in all this is a well written book that gives some very interesting insights about Muslims in the history of the Americas. Much of what is written here is familiar but it's the Muslim connection that gives this book an interesting twist.
 Muslims in American History
A great book and a great history of Americam Muslims. I think This is the first scholarly work That I have read so far about this topics.
U.S. History Fascinating and Informative
Provides fascinating facts and historical references on Muslim contributions to America. A must-read for everyone.
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