This book is a novel and ambitious attempt to map the Muslim American nonprofit sector: its origins, growth and impact on American society. Using theories from the fields of philanthropy, public administration and data gathered from surveys and interviews, the authors make a compelling case for the Muslim American nonprofit sector’s key role in America. They argue that in a time when Islamic schools are grossly misunderstood, there is a need to examine them closely, for the landscape of these schools is far more complex than meets the eye.

"This volume of collected essays deals with a wide range of issues challenging Muslim Americans as they seek a well-rounded religious education from adolescence to adulthood. Also explored are college-level education; the kinds of training being offered by Muslim chaplains in universities, hospitals, and prisons; and the ways in which Muslims are educating the American public in the face of hostility and prejudice, This timely volume is the first dedicated entirely to the neglected topic of Islamic education in the United States."--BOOK JACKET.

This insightful text challenges popular belief that faith-based Islamic schools isolate Muslim learners, impose dogmatic religious views, and disregard academic excellence. This book attempts to paint a starkly different picture. Grounded in the premise that not all Islamic schools are the same, the historical narratives illustrate varied visions and approaches to Islamic schooling that showcase a richness of educational thought and aspiration. A History of Islamic Schooling in North America traces the growth and evolution of elementary and secondary private Islamic schools in Canada and the United States. Intersecting narratives between schools established by indigenous African American Muslims as early as the 1930s with those established by immigrant Muslim communities in the 1970s demonstrate how and why Islamic Education is in a constant, ongoing process of evolution, renewal, and adaptation. Drawing on the voices, perspectives, and narratives of pioneers and visionaries who established the earliest Islamic schools, chapters articulate why Islamic schools were established, what distinguishes them from one another, and why they continue to be important. This book will be of great interest to graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, academics, teaching professionals in the fields of Islamic education, religious studies, multicultural education curriculum studies, and faith-based teacher education.

Political rhetoric and popular concern about the presence in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe of immigrants from predominantly-Muslim societies has remained largely detached from the actual reality of the lives and the contributions of these immigrants and their children. The studies presented here seek to correct this ignorant reaction by presenting objective information from schools that such immigrants have created and sustained. The first looked at seven explicitly-Islamic secondary schools, focusing on the formation of character and American citizenship, while the other studied public charter schools established by immigrants from Turkey, focusing on academic outcomes. Do faith-based schools cause social divisions? Do their students fail to become good citizens who can cooperate with those of other faiths? This familiar accusation against Catholic, and more recently against Evangelical, schools, is now directed against Islamic schools in Western societies. The studies presented here offer objective information from schools established by Muslim immigrants across the United States, with reassuring results. Praise for Muslim Educators in American Communities: "Dr. Charles Glenn takes us inside US Islamic schools and offers a rare insight into the thoughts and emotions of young American Muslims. A must read for Non-Muslims as well as Muslims; his book provides a taste for those curious about what goes on in Islamic schools as well as evidence of the results of an Islamic School education." ~ Sufia Azmat, Executive Director Council of Islamic Schools in North America "Every wave of immigration throughout American history has brought with it an undertow of fear, often centered on the religious schools new immigrants form. In every instance, those fears have proven unfounded and so they are today. Through careful, on-the-ground research, Charles Glenn and colleagues take us into new Islamic secondary schools and discover the important role these faith-based schools are playing in forming virtuous citizens capable and committed to being a positive influence within American civic life. This book is a valuable and timely contribution." ~ James Davison Hunter, Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture University of Virginia

This book provides a comparative history of Islamic education in the Soviet Union and the post-Soviet countries. Case studies on Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan and on two regions of the Russian Federation, Tatarstan and Daghestan, highlight the importance which Muslim communities in all parts of the Soviet Union attached to their formal and informal institutions of Islamic instruction. New light is shed on the continuity of pre-revolutionary educational traditions – including Jadidist ethics and teaching methods – throughout the New Economic Policy period (1921-1928), on Muslim efforts to maintain their religious schools under Stalinist repression, and on the complete institutional breakdown of the Islamic educational sector by the late 1930s. A second focus of the book is on the remarkable boom of Islamic education in the post-Soviet republics after 1991. Contrary to general assumptions on the overwhelming influence of foreign missionary activities on this revival, this study stresses the primary role of the Soviet Islamic institutions which were developed during and after the Second World War, and of the persisting regional and even international networks of Islamic teachers and muftis. Throughout the book, special attention is paid to the specific regional traditions of Islamic learning and to the teachers’ affiliations with Islamic legal schools and Sufi brotherhoods. The book thus testifies to the astounding dynamics of Islamic education under rapidly changing and oftentimes extremely harsh political conditions.

Offering a vital, critical contribution to discussions on current perspectives, practices and assumptions on Islamic education, this book explores the topic through a wide range of diverse perspectives and experiences. This volume challenges current assumptions around what is known as Islamic education and examines issues around educational leadership based on Islamic principles to confront xenophobia and Islamophobia in educational systems, policies and practices. Arguing for a new term to enter the discourse – ‘Islamic-based’ educational leadership – chapters approach the issue through critical reflexivity and diverse perspectives, addressing issues such as the higher education of immigrant students around the globe and the rising tensions in Muslim and non-Muslim populations. Exploring topics ranging from the leverage of leadership to religious education, this text brings together a wide range of case studies, experiences and examinations to shed light to the different approaches of Islamic-based educational leadership, administration and management. This book will support researchers, doctoral students and scholars involved with multicultural education, school leadership and management studies, and education policy and politics more widely to explore new theories and practices that pave the way for future educational systems to meet faith-based demand in the school choice era.

"United in Faith" offers an insightful exploration into the rich and diverse history of Islam across the 50 United States. This book documents the growth, struggles, and achievements of the Muslim community in America, highlighting their contributions to the nation's cultural, social, and religious fabric. From the early waves of Muslim immigration to the present day, this comprehensive account traces the evolution of Islam in America, shedding light on the challenges faced by Muslims as they sought to establish their identity and practice their faith in a new land. It delves into the experiences of pioneering Muslim individuals and communities, as well as the efforts made to establish mosques, Islamic centers, and educational institutions throughout the country. The book presents a chronological narrative, starting with the earliest Muslim arrivals in the 17th and 18th centuries, such as enslaved Africans who brought their Islamic faith with them. It then explores the contributions of Muslim immigrants from various parts of the world, including the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, who played pivotal roles in shaping the Muslim American community. Readers will discover the significant role Islamic institutions played in fostering a sense of community, providing religious and social services, and promoting interfaith dialogue. The book also examines the challenges faced by Muslim Americans in the wake of major events such as the Civil Rights Movement, and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, which led to an increase in Islamophobia. "United in Faith" highlights the resilience and determination of Muslim Americans in overcoming adversity and striving for social justice, civil rights, and religious freedom. It showcases the rise of prominent Muslim figures across various fields, including academia, politics, sports, entertainment, and activism, who have made significant contributions to American society. Through engaging storytelling, well-researched historical accounts, and personal narratives, this book paints a vivid picture of the complex tapestry of Islam in America. It aims to foster a deeper understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of the Muslim American experience, emphasizing the shared values that underpin the diverse fabric of the United States. "United in Faith" is an essential read for anyone seeking to broaden their knowledge of American history, religious diversity, and the resilience of the Muslim American community as they continue to shape the nation's future.”