Muslims started to arrive in the United States in the late 1800s when young people, most of whom were from the Middle East, emigrated to US with the aim of making money.
Muslim emigrants started to group in order to maintain their identity. Each group of Muslim emigrants established a mosque in the area where they live. By 1952, there were 20 mosques in America. By this time African Americans started to join Islam, in which they found justice and equality.
During the last half century, emigration from the Middle East to America increased, but most of the emigrants were secular, [people] who place their political identity above their religious one.
By 1992, there were more that 2300 Islamic organizations, including mosques, Islamic schools, publishing houses and clubs. This is in addition to the broadcasting of Islamic TV and radio programs.
Since mosques in the US comprise people from various nationalities, Muslims in America find it difficult to represent a single Islamic identity that unifies all Muslims. (To be continued.)
