Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.
Donate

Chapter 4: Islamic Thought and the United States Constitution

Ayoub Saidi April 12, 2022

The religious values of Islam are more compatible with the ideological framework of the United States than most would like to think, mainly because they were taken into consideration at the founding of the country.

In this chapter, I will be attempting to uncover the importance of Muslim values and beliefs in the formation of the United States’ framework of laws (and possibly cultural norms). Drawing on the expertise of American Muslims and other Americans who have dedicated their careers to the study of both the United States Constitution, early American history, and Islamic law and scripture, I will find ways in which themes of Islamic thought have made their way into the composition of our nation. To start off, I will be telling stories of the Founding Fathers and their deliberations while drafting the Constitution. I will discuss the many ways in which these men consulted different religious frameworks (especially Islamic frameworks) and I will compare those deliberations to the contemporary interpretations of the religious and legal documents in question. The focus of this chapter will be to bring attention to the ways in which the United States’ Constitution and the Quran may be similar, and to explore America’s earliest approaches to religious pluralism. 

For this chapter, I will be relying on the following sources (this remains an evolving list and may be subject to changes):

  • Thomas Jefferson’s Qur’an: Islam and the Founders by Denise Spellberg
  • What Every American Needs to Know about the Qur’an: A History of Islam & the United States by William Federer
  • The Faiths of the Founding Fathers by David L. Holmes
  • The United States Constitution and other relevant legal documents and primary sources
  • The Holy Quran

Acknowledgments

I would like to express special thanks and gratitude to my professor and mentor Dr. Nathan Walker as well as the Rutgers Honors College who have given me the opportunity and encouragement to do this meaningful and pertinent research. By engrossing myself in this subject matter, I honor myself and those who share and have shared with me in the American Muslim experience, such as my friends, family, and religious peers, to whom this research is also dedicated. I would also like to express my appreciation for organizations all around the country such as the ISPU who are committed to educating the public on the realities faced by American Muslims while strengthening interfaith dialogue and exploring new pathways for coexistence and unity.

...

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ReligionAndPublicLife.org or its partners, funders, or other contributors.

In partnership with The Foundation for Religious Literacy, ReligionAndPublicLife.org is a project of 1791 Delegates, a delegation of First Amendment and human rights educators named after the year the Bill of Rights was ratified.

Report

Hostile, belligerent, or antagonistic combativeness.
Manipulates or interferes with an election or other civic activities, or misleads others about when, where, or how to engage in an election or civic process.
Unjust or prejudicial treatment based on race, ethnicity, color, caste, religion, belief, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, union membership, veteran status, or any other legally protected identity.
Taking advantage, preying on, or manipulating children or vulnerable adults.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying behavior
Promotion or encouragement of harm to self or others.
Engaging in unlawful or illegal behavior.
Poses as an individual or group to mislead, confuse, or deceive others.
Contains mature or sensitive content
Representing another person's words, ideas, or work as one's own, or violating copyright or trademarks.
Contains misleading or false information
Contains abusive or derogatory content
Publish or post other people's private information (such as home phone number and address) without their express authorization and permission.
Excessively violent or cruel, or adult nudity or sexual activity
Irrelevant, indiscriminate, or inappropriate communication to recipients.
Contains spam, fake content or potential malware

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to clubs
  • Message this member
  • Add this member as a connection

Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .

Showcase your Digital Portfolio

Use the Showcases tab on your profile page to publish a digital portfolio. Upload your thesis, publications, speeches, and other assets. Attach a manuscript, embed multimedia, or advertise your projects by adding links to external sources, such as your podcast or book. Your entries will also be displayed in the ReligionAndPublicLife.org Showcase Directory and Mobile App. And make sure to add your Showcase link to your resume so employers can view your professional portfolio.