It is estimated that there are more than 3 million Muslims in the United States. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islamic organizations in the United States are not unified; there are many organizations and groups that work to promote various forms of Islam. Below is a short list of some of the prominent Muslim-serving groups.
The largest of these groups is the American Society Of Muslims, an association of American Muslims identifying with the leadership of the Honorable Wallace D. Mohammed. It is an expression of identity characterizing the evolution of a Muslim community from the ideology and structure of the Nation (or Temples) of Islam (1930-1975) through a 23 year process of religious reorientation and organizational decentralization that included other designations such as the American Muslim Mission. Estimates in 2002 placed its numbers at near 2.5 million persons, with a percentage of immigrant and naturalized American citizens from various Muslim ethnic peoples, European Americans, and a majority of African Americans representing.
The next largest group is the Islamic Circle of North America, ICNA. ICNA is a non-ethnic, open to all, independent, North America wide, grass root organization. It is mostly comprised of immigrants and some caucasian and African American converts. Its membership may have recently exceeded ASM as many independant masjids throughout the United States are choosing to affiliate with it. External Link:Official Site
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, known by its acronym CAIR. CAIR is a non-profit pro-Islam organization, established to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. CAIR portrays itself as the voice of mainstream, moderate Islam on Capitol Hill and in political arenas throughout the United States. Critics of the movement, notings its public support for Hizbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, view this organization as tacitly promoting a violent form of Islam and terrorism.
The American Islamic Congress is a small but growing moderate Muslim organization that promotes religious pluralism. Their official Statement of Principles states that "Muslims have been profoundly influenced by their encounter with America. American Muslims are a minority group, largely comprising African-Americans, immigrants, and children of immigrants, who have prospered in America's climate of religious tolerance and civil rights. The lessons of our unprecedented experience of acceptance and success must be carefully considered by our community." Their Statement of Principles describes their full agenda.
Another group is the Islamic Supreme Council of America. This group represents many Muslims, but likely less than 10% of Muslims in the USA.
