American magazine reveals that Islam’s presence in the United States dates back to the nation’s origins

An in-depth investigation published by the Milwaukee Independent, a news magazine known for its independent and engaged journalism, reveals that the influence of Islam in the United States dates back to the nation’s origins.

We learn that in the collections of the Library of Congress in Washington lie two major historical documents: a Koran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson and the manuscript of an enslaved Muslim scholar.

The magazine points out in particular that Jefferson, architect of the Declaration of Independence and third American president, had obtained his translation of the Koran as early as 1765, testifying to an early interest of the Founding Fathers in Islam.

This Milwaukee Independent investigation also highlights the significant presence of Muslims among enslaved Africans, illustrating the paradoxes of a nation advocating religious freedom while maintaining the slave system. A particularly notable fact reported by the magazine is the visit in 1805 of the first Muslim ambassador to the United States, coming from Tunis. Jefferson would then have shown respect for Islamic practices by adapting a state dinner to Ramadan times, a significant gesture for the time.

The article highlights the remarkable case of Omar Ibn Said, a West African intellectual proficient in Arabic and specialist in Islamic law, who was captured and reduced to slavery. His autobiography, written in Arabic, constitutes today a valuable testimony to the Muslim presence in early America. This historical revelation shakes up the traditional perception of the religious origins of the United States, traditionally centered on the Protestant Christian heritage.