This study focuses on the beliefs and practices of African American Sunni Muslims at The Muslim Center: Mosque and Community Center in Detroit, Michigan. Through a case study, this project positions the cultural practices and the lived experiences of African American Muslims as central components of understanding their religiosity. I argue that the Muslim Center’s congregants practice a unique version of Islam that is not Arab-centric, Afrocentric, or African-centered, but rather rooted in... Show moreThis study focuses on the beliefs and practices of African American Sunni Muslims at The Muslim Center: Mosque and Community Center in Detroit, Michigan. Through a case study, this project positions the cultural practices and the lived experiences of African American Muslims as central components of understanding their religiosity. I argue that the Muslim Center’s congregants practice a unique version of Islam that is not Arab-centric, Afrocentric, or African-centered, but rather rooted in the particularities of their collective lived experiences in the United States. This center informs the belief system of this community and serves as a recreational place, a social space, an educational facility, and a political sphere. This research interrogates the intersections of Africana Studies and Islamic Studies and how Black Muslim beliefs and practices have been marginalized in both fields. Show less
