> History

The Crescent Moon
The Christians have the cross, the Jews have the star of David, and the Muslims have the crescent moon, right? What is the history behind the crescent moon symbol? What does it symbolize or mean? How and when did it become associated with the faith of Islam?

African-American Muslims: The Slavery Years
Muslims have been part of the American landscape 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.

African-American Muslims: The Civil Rights Era
Most people, when they think of African-American Muslims, think of the "Nation of Islam." Certainly, there is an historical importance to how Islam took hold among African-Americans, but we will see how this initial introduction transformed in modern times.

African-American Muslims: Today
Today, the vast majority of African-American Muslims have embraced orthodox Islam and have rejected the racially-divisive teachings of the Nation of Islam.

Muslim Women in History
Despite the stereotypes, Muslim women have always played a vital role in the Muslim community, and not only in traditional roles. Early Muslim women served the community through scholarship, teaching, nursing, and other important activities.

The Hijrah Calendar
Muslims measure the passage of time using the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar, which was first introduced by the close companion of the Prophet, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab.

Books on Islam in America
Learn more about the history of Islam and Muslims in the United States. These books and resources give background, historical perspective, and information about the lives of early American Muslims, both well-known and anonymous.

Islam: Empire of Faith
This three-part PBS series covers more than a thousand years of Islamic history and culture, with emphasis on the contributions that Muslims have made in science, medicine, art, philosophy, learning, and trade.

1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage in Our World
This traveling UK exhibition & educational program reveals some of the best kept secrets and scientific contributions made by ancient Muslim scholars.