Comments on: Some thoughts on the US Muslim Population http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/ Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life Tue, 22 May 2012 19:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ali http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-110327 Ali Fri, 18 May 2012 15:47:00 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-110327 thanks, its real helpful... here's a complete table that i thought would add to the discussion... http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html thanks, its real helpful… here’s a complete table that i thought would add to the discussion…
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html

]]> By: The Origin Of The Philly Beard [Original] | Hot 107.9 Philly http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-109102 The Origin Of The Philly Beard [Original] | Hot 107.9 Philly Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:30:18 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-109102 [...] class, religious superiority, and even sexual maturity. Here in our city, religious is diverse and Islam is one of the fastest growing religions during the last decade in Philadelphia as well as [...] [...] class, religious superiority, and even sexual maturity. Here in our city, religious is diverse and Islam is one of the fastest growing religions during the last decade in Philadelphia as well as [...]

]]> By: Abdul http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-103095 Abdul Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:04:31 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-103095 @TanvirAnsari - I live in the Atlanta metro area and wanted to comment on your posting. There are over 40 masjids in the Atlanta area. Unlike Houston and other cities, there is no single umbrella organization that oversees the various masajids. Either the masjid operates independently or maybe be integrated with one or two other masjids in the area. Therefore, the existence of masjids and muslims is not as great unless you live in areas where there are established Muslim communities. There is also a very diverse muslim population in Atlanta. Beliieve it or not, the largest ethinicity of muslims in this area are African Americans. (Other larger ethic groups include Arabs, South Asians, Persians, Turkish, Bosnians, Somalis, and Ethopians.) If you have ever spent time in areas south of downtown (Dekalb county and South Fulton County), you will see that there are a number of businesses and religious institutions that are very well established. These communities have been around since before muslim immigrants from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world began to settle in this area. That area alone has a muslim population of 30 or 50 K. If you combine that with the muslims that live in Cobb, North Fulton, Dekalb, and Gwinnett, you are easily over 100K, just in Atlanta. That's just 4 of the 25 counties making up Atlanta metro. To elaborate furher on these numbers, let's just take Eid Salah attendance throughout the area: North Atlanta Trade Center = over 10K Alpharetta/Roswell = over 5K Gwinnett Civic Center = over 10K Lakewood = over 20K Larger masjid Eid prayers: Masjid Al-Islam = over 5K Masjid Al-Farooq = over 5K Masjid Ash-Shura = over 2K These are just some of the places where a large number of people go for Eid Salah (and ones that I can recall). Adding these numbers up puts you right around 60K and only covers less than 1/4 of the metro area. Even if you double that number for the remaining 3/4 of the metro area, you are over 100K just for Atlanta. I would even go out on a limb and estimate that the Muslim population just within the Atlanta metro area is close to or over 200K. Certainly if you combine with other cities in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, you are closer to 200K, rather than 100K as you state in your post. @TanvirAnsari – I live in the Atlanta metro area and wanted to comment on your posting. There are over 40 masjids in the Atlanta area. Unlike Houston and other cities, there is no single umbrella organization that oversees the various masajids. Either the masjid operates independently or maybe be integrated with one or two other masjids in the area. Therefore, the existence of masjids and muslims is not as great unless you live in areas where there are established Muslim communities. There is also a very diverse muslim population in Atlanta. Beliieve it or not, the largest ethinicity of muslims in this area are African Americans. (Other larger ethic groups include Arabs, South Asians, Persians, Turkish, Bosnians, Somalis, and Ethopians.) If you have ever spent time in areas south of downtown (Dekalb county and South Fulton County), you will see that there are a number of businesses and religious institutions that are very well established. These communities have been around since before muslim immigrants from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world began to settle in this area. That area alone has a muslim population of 30 or 50 K. If you combine that with the muslims that live in Cobb, North Fulton, Dekalb, and Gwinnett, you are easily over 100K, just in Atlanta. That’s just 4 of the 25 counties making up Atlanta metro.

To elaborate furher on these numbers, let’s just take Eid Salah attendance throughout the area:

North Atlanta Trade Center = over 10K
Alpharetta/Roswell = over 5K
Gwinnett Civic Center = over 10K
Lakewood = over 20K

Larger masjid Eid prayers:
Masjid Al-Islam = over 5K
Masjid Al-Farooq = over 5K
Masjid Ash-Shura = over 2K

These are just some of the places where a large number of people go for Eid Salah (and ones that I can recall). Adding these numbers up puts you right around 60K and only covers less than 1/4 of the metro area. Even if you double that number for the remaining 3/4 of the metro area, you are over 100K just for Atlanta. I would even go out on a limb and estimate that the Muslim population just within the Atlanta metro area is close to or over 200K.

Certainly if you combine with other cities in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, you are closer to 200K, rather than 100K as you state in your post.

]]> By: Ismail Abdur-Raheem http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-102669 Ismail Abdur-Raheem Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:20:43 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-102669 As-Salaam Alikium, I'm currently living in Sacramento CA but I am planning to move out of the area. I am looking for the best city to move to which has a great community and business savvy people to work with. The cost of living must be good and the community mixed with different people. Please everyone give your reasoning on why your city would be a good fit for me. As-Salaam Alikium, I’m currently living in Sacramento CA but I am planning to move out of the area. I am looking for the best city to move to which has a great community and business savvy people to work with. The cost of living must be good and the community mixed with different people. Please everyone give your reasoning on why your city would be a good fit for me.

]]> By: Madinah http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-100754 Madinah Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:29:28 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-100754 Assalaam 'alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh. Does anybody know how diverse Houston or Dallas are as far as the Muslim community goes? (in terms of ethnic groups). I really like diversity and I'm trying to move out to either of these places because I have heard a lot that there are a lot of practicing Muslims there. Of course I'm planning on making more research insha Allah. I would also like to know if anyone knows the population of women wearing the niqab in Houston or Dallas. I mean to ask if it is something widely accepted there or not (or if there are many women wearing it). Jazak Allahu khayr. Assalaam ‘alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

Does anybody know how diverse Houston or Dallas are as far as the Muslim community goes? (in terms of ethnic groups). I really like diversity and I’m trying to move out to either of these places because I have heard a lot that there are a lot of practicing Muslims there. Of course I’m planning on making more research insha Allah. I would also like to know if anyone knows the population of women wearing the niqab in Houston or Dallas. I mean to ask if it is something widely accepted there or not (or if there are many women wearing it).

Jazak Allahu khayr.

]]> By: Battle on dallas vs. Houston - Texas (TX) - Page 34 - City-Data Forum http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-90592 Battle on dallas vs. Houston - Texas (TX) - Page 34 - City-Data Forum Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:24:09 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-90592 [...] Originally Posted by JimBaker488 Between Dallas and Houston, (1) which proportionally has the larger Muslim population and (2) in each respective city is the Muslim population concentrated in a single area or fairly widely dispersed ? According to Muslim Matters, both metro areas have about the same number of Muslims -- 100,000. I've noticed a lot more mosques in the Irving area than in Dallas. Some thoughts on the US Muslim Population | MuslimMatters.org [...] [...] Originally Posted by JimBaker488 Between Dallas and Houston, (1) which proportionally has the larger Muslim population and (2) in each respective city is the Muslim population concentrated in a single area or fairly widely dispersed ? According to Muslim Matters, both metro areas have about the same number of Muslims — 100,000. I've noticed a lot more mosques in the Irving area than in Dallas. Some thoughts on the US Muslim Population | MuslimMatters.org [...]

]]> By: Rinat Ki http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-90405 Rinat Ki Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:40:20 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-90405 Assalyamu Aleykum Wa RahmatuLaah Dear brothers and sisters let me ask you question which has been asked repeatedly many times InshaLaah. I live in area where there is almost no muslims at all. So my main intention, idea i want to move anywhere, to any place as long as it has big, practicing muslim community. All i want is just to live among muslims, practice my religion, be helpful for community, study and spread Islam. I've been looking for this kind of place for a very long time but so far at every internet sourse there are different numbers,fact etc. Plus I'm very young and came overhere from another country. So i'm just looking for muslim community to be in. May Allah Subhana Wa Ta'alya help us, guide us on right path. Jazzaka Laahu Khair Assalyamu Aleykum Assalyamu Aleykum Wa RahmatuLaah

Dear brothers and sisters let me ask you question which has been asked repeatedly many times InshaLaah. I live in area where there is almost no muslims at all. So my main intention, idea i want to move anywhere, to any place as long as it has big, practicing muslim community. All i want is just to live among muslims, practice my religion, be helpful for community, study and spread Islam. I’ve been looking for this kind of place for a very long time but so far at every internet sourse there are different numbers,fact etc. Plus I’m very young and came overhere from another country. So i’m just looking for muslim community to be in.
May Allah Subhana Wa Ta’alya help us, guide us on right path.
Jazzaka Laahu Khair
Assalyamu Aleykum

]]> By: Tanvir Ansari http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-80474 Tanvir Ansari Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:51:36 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-80474 I have lived in Chicago,San Francisco,NYC-NJ, Detroit, Dallas, Houston & now recently moved to Atlanta. My passion is to roam around eat at halal restaurants, pray at different mosques driving length and breadth of city and outskirts as well. My opinion: 1) NYC/NJ has huge muslim population, so I am okay with 1 million count for NY/NJ/CT/PA whole state. 2)MI/IN/OH- Detroit again is huge as large afro-american community & whole of Dearborn. so again 500K. 3)CA/NV/AZ/WA/OR/AK - SF/LA/Bay Area huge muslim, again 1 Million is an okay number here for these 4 states. 4)IL/WI/IO - Again lot of muslim here in Chicago & suburbs, total for the state 500K 4)Texas/FL/LA/MO/OK - Huge growing Muslim community, and a very much practicing Muslim community, big mosques, big Islamic schools, big Sunni community, big Shia community, big Ismaili's - I will put the number of muslim here to be 500K for whole of Texas/FL. Most vibrant community of all I have seen in US is in Dallas Fortworth (Irving, Plano, Richardson, MCKinney) & Houston 5)GA/NE/MS/AL/TN- I have been going to different mosques here, and really speaking I find it hard that Atlanta has more than 20K muslims (I am including Apharetta, Roswell, Metro Atlanta even Chattanooga). Whole of Georgia, I will say wont be more than 30K then. For the 4 states, I will put the count to be 100K 6) All VA/MD/DC/NC/SC may be 500K as there is again sizable population here. 7) Rest of US, I will say add 500K more. Also I have not much gone in the African-American/Mexican neighborhood, so I expect them to be 1-1.5 Million+ in addition to what I have already counted. So my guess is muslim population is~ 6 million, but since most of them are just immigrant an in age group of 20-30, hence it will really double up in next 10 years for sure. I have lived in Chicago,San Francisco,NYC-NJ, Detroit, Dallas, Houston & now recently moved to Atlanta. My passion is to roam around eat at halal restaurants, pray at different mosques driving length and breadth of city and outskirts as well.

My opinion:
1) NYC/NJ has huge muslim population, so I am okay with 1 million count for NY/NJ/CT/PA whole state.

2)MI/IN/OH- Detroit again is huge as large afro-american community & whole of Dearborn. so again 500K.

3)CA/NV/AZ/WA/OR/AK – SF/LA/Bay Area huge muslim, again 1 Million is an okay number here for these 4 states.

4)IL/WI/IO – Again lot of muslim here in Chicago & suburbs, total for the state 500K

4)Texas/FL/LA/MO/OK – Huge growing Muslim community, and a very much practicing Muslim community, big mosques, big Islamic schools, big Sunni community, big Shia community, big Ismaili’s – I will put the number of muslim here to be 500K for whole of Texas/FL. Most vibrant community of all I have seen in US is in Dallas Fortworth (Irving, Plano, Richardson, MCKinney) & Houston

5)GA/NE/MS/AL/TN- I have been going to different mosques here, and really speaking I find it hard that Atlanta has more than 20K muslims (I am including Apharetta, Roswell, Metro Atlanta even Chattanooga). Whole of Georgia, I will say wont be more than 30K then. For the 4 states, I will put the count to be 100K

6) All VA/MD/DC/NC/SC may be 500K as there is again sizable population here.

7) Rest of US, I will say add 500K more.

Also I have not much gone in the African-American/Mexican neighborhood, so I expect them to be 1-1.5 Million+ in addition to what I have already counted.

So my guess is muslim population is~ 6 million, but since most of them are just immigrant an in age group of 20-30, hence it will really double up in next 10 years for sure.

]]> By: AsimG http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-75272 AsimG Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:37:12 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-75272 Whatever the numbers are, we gotta fight to maintain and grow them. The Youth, The Youth, The Youth. Whatever the numbers are, we gotta fight to maintain and grow them.

The Youth, The Youth, The Youth.

]]> By: Khadija http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-75197 Khadija Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:33:56 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/05/23/some-thoughts-on-the-us-muslim-population/#comment-75197 Why label anyone who wants to get an accurate statistic as an Islamophobe? When that is done, Islam is being sullied by making it about politics. But Islam is not primarily about politics. It's about building societies and social networks amongst observant believers. Those who argue about Islam being the fastest growing religion are actually celebrating the downfall of those who claim to be Muslims. Every Muslim is supposed to believe that, upon death, every human being will admit to believing in the existence of God. That's why the disbelievers and unbelievers will wish that judgment day never comes. After the time of judgment, every person will also accept the second part of the Muslim creed: the prophethood of Muhammad (SAW). Regardless of the fact that not all people will believe in the existence of God before they die, Muslims are supposed to proselytize (spread the teaching of Islam). They are not instructed to _convert_ people to Islam. They are simply instructed to _teach_ people about Islam. A Muslim is supposed to believe that only God controls who accepts or reject Islam, and God does not need helpers. So it would be impossible for a Muslim to convert anyone to Islam. A Muslim could only instruct others, and nothing more. When a believer accepts God's command to proselytize, his intent must be to instruct, not to convert, or it does not warrant blessings. Also, only God knows people's hearts, i.e. only God knows who is a true believer. A person who has studied hadith would know that Islam is destined to split into 73 sects, of which only one is righteous. That means the "Muslim" members of the other 72 sects of Islam will spend the rest of eternity in hellfire. So very few people will up in heaven. Abdullah bin Amarra relates that the Holy Prophet (SA) said ‘Surely things will happen to my people as happened earlier to Israelites, they will resemble each other like one shoe in a pair resembles the other to the extent that if anyone among the Israelites has openly committed adultery with his mother there will be some who will do this in my Ummah as well, verily the Israelites were divided into 72 sects but my people will be divided into 73 sects, all of them will be in the fire except one." Furthermore, only .01% (1 of 1000) are destined to live in paradise eternally, while 99.99% (999 out of 1000) will spend eternity in hell. Narrated in Bukhari and Muslim: Allah will say, Send forth those who are destined for hell? Adam (pbuh) will say.Who are those? ...Allah will say Out of every thousand, 999 go to hell and 1 to paradise". - Bukhari 6:60:265 Implicit in the hadith is that only 1/1000th of all people are true believing Muslims. So.... be careful about claiming a huge population of believing Muslims. It's arrogant, and it contracts hadith of Bukhari. Furthermore, people - especially those with children - need to make the best decision as to where to move. When organizations such as CAIR provided overinflated statistics, the damage to the ordinary person can be great. A person hopes to arrive in a city or town which is replete with Muslims, with Islamic-friendly public schools, with Islam-friendly entertainment, with Quran-teaching institutes, with mosques, and (hopefully) the athan played out loud. So he reads the CAIR or other Muslim organization statistics However, if statistics are overestimated, one could inadvertently choose to move where the Muslim community is very dispersed. Such a population cannot possibly be the source of fortification that the person what seeking. Why label anyone who wants to get an accurate statistic as an Islamophobe? When that is done, Islam is being sullied by making it about politics. But Islam is not primarily about politics. It’s about building societies and social networks amongst observant believers.

Those who argue about Islam being the fastest growing religion are actually celebrating the downfall of those who claim to be Muslims. Every Muslim is supposed to believe that, upon death, every human being will admit to believing in the existence of God. That’s why the disbelievers and unbelievers will wish that judgment day never comes. After the time of judgment, every person will also accept the second part of the Muslim creed: the prophethood of Muhammad (SAW). Regardless of the fact that not all people will believe in the existence of God before they die, Muslims are supposed to proselytize (spread the teaching of Islam). They are not instructed to _convert_ people to Islam. They are simply instructed to _teach_ people about Islam. A Muslim is supposed to believe that only God controls who accepts or reject Islam, and God does not need helpers. So it would be impossible for a Muslim to convert anyone to Islam. A Muslim could only instruct others, and nothing more. When a believer accepts God’s command to proselytize, his intent must be to instruct, not to convert, or it does not warrant blessings.
Also, only God knows people’s hearts, i.e. only God knows who is a true believer. A person who has studied hadith would know that Islam is destined to split into 73 sects, of which only one is righteous. That means the “Muslim” members of the other 72 sects of Islam will spend the rest of eternity in hellfire. So very few people will up in heaven. Abdullah bin Amarra relates that the Holy Prophet (SA) said ‘Surely things will happen to my people as happened earlier to Israelites, they will resemble each other like one shoe in a pair resembles the other to the extent that if anyone among the Israelites has openly committed adultery with his mother there will be some who will do this in my Ummah as well, verily the Israelites were divided into 72 sects but my people will be divided into 73 sects, all of them will be in the fire except one.”
Furthermore, only .01% (1 of 1000) are destined to live in paradise eternally, while 99.99% (999 out of 1000) will spend eternity in hell. Narrated in Bukhari and Muslim: Allah will say, Send forth those who are destined for hell? Adam (pbuh) will say.Who are those? …Allah will say Out of every thousand, 999 go to hell and 1 to paradise”. – Bukhari 6:60:265 Implicit in the hadith is that only 1/1000th of all people are true believing Muslims.

So…. be careful about claiming a huge population of believing Muslims. It’s arrogant, and it contracts hadith of Bukhari.

Furthermore, people – especially those with children – need to make the best decision as to where to move. When organizations such as CAIR provided overinflated statistics, the damage to the ordinary person can be great.
A person hopes to arrive in a city or town which is replete with Muslims, with Islamic-friendly public schools, with Islam-friendly entertainment, with Quran-teaching institutes, with mosques, and (hopefully) the athan played out loud. So he reads the CAIR or other Muslim organization statistics

However, if statistics are overestimated, one could inadvertently choose to move where the Muslim community is very dispersed. Such a population cannot possibly be the source of fortification that the person what seeking.

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