11 June 2009
Spotlight on Muslim Americans: Shahed Amanullah
Creator and host of the Web site altmuslim
Washington — “If we are to have partners for peace, then we must first be partners in sympathetic recognition that all mankind possesses in common like aspirations and hungers, like ideals and appetites, like purposes and frailties, a like demand for economic advancement. The divisions between us are artificial and transient. Our common humanity is God-made and enduring.” President Dwight Eisenhower, July 11, 1955.
The United States is home to one of the most diverse Muslim communities in the world, with a total population estimated between 3 million and 6 million people.
“The Muslim-American population is largely middle class, mostly mainstream, assimilated, happy with their lives and moderate on many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world,” says Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center.
One example is Shahed Amanullah, an engineer and editor-in-chief of the Web site altmuslim.com, who says, “American values are, by and large, very consistent with Islamic values, with a focus on family, faith, hard work and an obligation to better self and society.”
Most Muslims living in the United States said they do not perceive a conflict between practicing their religion and living in a modern society, and they believe hard work is rewarded in America, according to the Pew Global Attitudes Project survey, which was conducted by the Pew Research Center, an independent, nonpartisan opinion-research group.
Amanullah pointed out that the challenges facing young Muslim Americans today revolve around embracing who they are and how they fit into the larger fabric of America: “Many are more observant than their parents, yet they are searching for a Muslim identity that allows them to integrate American culture while being true to Islam.”
Amanullah long has been a practitioner of his own “obligation to better self and society.” Along with altmuslim.com, Amanullah is also the founder of the company Halalfire Media, a network of Islamic-themed Web sites with more than 6 million annual visitors.
He also founded zabihah.com, described as the world’s largest database of halal restaurants and markets, as well as salatomatic.com, an extensive list of reviewed mosques and schools in Muslim-minority countries. He started unitedmuslims.org, a resource for civic engagement, as well as halalapalooza.com, a comprehensive guide to Islamic commerce.
Public service plays a huge role in Amanullah’s life, as he has served as a board member of the United Muslims of America, the Muslim Public Service Network and the Muslim Youth Camp of California. He is also a general partner in Zakat Community Ventures, the first “venture philanthropy” fund dedicated to promoting Islamic charitable values.
He launched his new Web site, altmuslim.com, “to develop a professional, authoritative outlet for a Muslim’s voice to be in line with the mainstream media, and highlight … what it means to be a Muslim in the West.”
Amanullah added that he wanted to change the dialogue about Muslims, especially after 2001, because he believes that non-Muslims stereotyped Muslims in the West and Muslims did not understand the concerns of non-Muslims.
Amanullah described the challenges of the American-Muslim community as “a blessed community in terms of education and economy … and we have the opportunity to contribute. We need to find our place in the community and how to be fully Muslims at the same time [we are] fully Americans.”
He offered a solution as well: “We shouldn’t isolate ourselves, as some people think, to protect their identity. … It is very wrong,” he said. “The Muslim-American identity will be strengthened when it is exposed to people, when [we are] involved in every sphere in community life. It helps to develop identity — in America the Muslims benefited more because they are not isolated. There is something unique about being an American; it is easy to assimilate because America is an immigration nation, and it is easier that people accept Muslims as American, which helps to protect their identities.”
“In America, we have the most diverse Muslim community,” Amanullah said. “They come from different origins, which enriches the community; [they] give and take from each other, and create a more interactive community, giving a great example to the rest of the Muslim world, who lives in a homogeneous society.”
“With the new administration and the message of President Obama, which gave hope to Muslim Americans, which has opened the doors to hear our voices, I say it is a good opportunity to serve,” Amanullah said. “I am very optimistic, because of the talented people in the Muslim-American community, that they can be a big help to the country. That is why I want to tell those stories on altmuslim.com.”
