Islam in America #1541

Caption from poster__       Islam in America   In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful     Muslims have been part of American history since pre-Columbus times. Indeed, early explorers used maps that were derived from the work of  Muslims, with their advanced geographical and navigational information of the time. Some scholars estimate that 10-20 percent of the slaves brought over from Africa were Muslims. The film "Amistad"  alluded to this fact, portraying Muslims aboard this slave vessel trying to perform  their prayers, while chained together on deck as they crossed the Atlantic.Personal narratives   Omar Ibn Said (ca. 1770-1864) was born in the Muslim state of Futa Toro in Western Africa, in present-day  Senegal. He was a Muslim scholar and trader who was captured and  enslaved. He arrived in South Carolina in 1807, and was soldto James Owen of North Carolina.  Sali-Bul Ali was a slave on a plantation.  His  owner James Cooper wrote: "He is a  strict Mahometan (