American Muslim History at the Capitol

Muslims played a part in US history from its beginning. An obvious, but seldom mentioned fact is that many slaves brought to the Americas from Africa were Muslim. But there were other Muslims who came to the New World as well. Much of their history was lost or destroyed. The Muslim American Society reports about an exhibition at the Capitol called 'Collections and Stories of American Muslims' which was assembled by Amir Muhammad. It includes all kinds of narriatives, as well as antique American copies of the Qu'ran as well as American Muslim names recorded in the first US census in 1790. It seems to be a remarkable effort to resurrect this largely forgotten history:

One enslaved Muslim, a Fulani African prince and military commander named Abdul Rahman Ibrahima born in 1762, is featured in the remarkable documentary movie called "Prince Among Slaves". Abdul Rahman, who was literate in the Arabic language, was captured by slave traders and transported to Natchez, Mississippi, where he was forced to labor on a cotton plantation. But never abandoning his faith, he was able (by Allah’s mercy) to eventually secure his freedom from bondage. He and his Christian wife were able to return to before his death in 1829.

You can learn more about the exhibit at the America.gov site and at the Muslims in America site.