The Fourth of July brings to mind the Muslims who fought in the revolutionary war, such as Yusuf Ben Ali, also known as Joseph (Benenhali) Benhaley.  His name appeared in the 1790 census of Sumter County, SC or Bampett Muhamed who was a Corporal in the Revolutionary Army or Sergeant Francis Saba, sergeant and Fifer Joseph Saba who served with the Continental Troops.

Let us not forget that in 1777 Morocco, A Muslim country, was the first to recognize the United States as an independent nation. Independence Day reminds me that I am freer to practice Islam in America than in most so-called Muslim countries.  America continues to be a beacon of freedom for the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Ivory Coast, Yemen and Syria.

As an American Muslim I can’t help but wonder if perhaps when framing the US Constitution that Jefferson's Quran (The one that Congressman Keith Ellison was sworn into office on) gave reinforcement to the universal ideal of freedom of religion as a God given right from Sharia.

Surah 2, Verse 256:

لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Translation:

Let there be no compulsion in religion: (Freedom of religion) Truth stands out clear from Error...

Perhaps James Madison while studying the life of the Prophet Muhammad saw where he set forth in 622 the Treaty of Medina which proclaimed; the security of God is equal for all groups (including Jews), the people of other faiths have equal political and cultural rights as Muslims and that they will have autonomy and freedom of religion.

But America has been since her inception a mixed bag of contradictions just like each of us.  She is guided by universal principles yet all to often falling victim to human frailties, creating two Americas, one of discrimination and one of freedom.  While holding Africans in bondage proclaiming, “.....all men are created equal”. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr reminds us, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” and the moral arc of America long and it bends toward freedom.

Fredrick Douglas in his damning yet hopeful critique delivered on July 5th, 1852 in Rochester, NY ‘The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro’.  Douglas reminds us of the contradictions between the ideals and the reality of The Republic.  Although, the toll of enslavement on the African remains unmeasured, slavery is over.

As a descendant of enslaved Africans, many of whom were Muslim, I recall that in over two hundred years of slavery Islam was systematically removed from my people until emancipation in1865.  In the post Malcolm X era (1965); after one hundred years of freedom, Islam is among the fastest growing traditional religions in America.  Faith flourishes in freedom. 

Looking from time of her conception with all of her noble ideals and imperfections as an American Muslim I see hope in America.  Yet our nation like the soul of man, can be the worst of creatures and those who have faith and follow it with deeds of righteousness they are the best of creatures (Quran 98:7)   

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَر

America remains a land where people can reinvent themselves.  With all of her contractions then and now she remains the greatest nation on earth, not because of her wealth, military might or technological achievements but because of her universal embrace of freedom.

Happy Birthday America - Keep on growing.