Islam in Dearborn, Michigan
Muslims in Dearborn USA
Ford, Muslims and mosques in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn is the hometown of Henry Ford and the world headquarters of the Ford Motor Company. Many years ago Muslim immigrants to the United States (US) were drawn to the relatively high-paying jobs associated with the auto industry in the area.
Dearborn, Michigan now has the largest single concentration of Arab Muslims in North America. There are 32,000 Arab Muslims from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq living in East Dearborn, making up almost 1/3 of the population. In some districts it is common to see store signs and billboards written in Arabic.
The Islamic Centre of America in Dearborn, a Shi'a mosque frequented mostly by Lebanese Muslims, is the largest mosque in the US. The Centre's attractive website has several good photos: http://www.icofa.com/.
Mosques and Islamic Centres play an important role in the life of American Muslims. They are places of refuge and of rest; places where a Muslim can experience the Islamic community and learn about Islam. Many Muslims feel safer and more relaxed within the centres which are somewhat isolated from outside influences. Dearborn is one of the few places in the US where one can actually hear the call to prayer publicly over a loudspeaker.
There have been a number of efforts to make Christ better known to Muslims in Dearborn. However, many believers say that in general, it can sometimes be even harder to discuss believing in Jesus with Muslims in Dearborn than elsewhere. Muslims in Michigan have a fortress mentality manifested in community pressure to conform to Muslim ideals.
USA
Prayer starters:
* Pray that the Muslims in Dearborn will respond to the Gospel message they have heard (Acts 28:26-28).
* Pray for the Arabic speaking Muslim background believers who live in the area. May they have God's grace in the Yemeni, Iraqi and Lebanese neighborhoods to start new communities of believers.
* Pray for the new adult male believers in the Messiah to openly profess their faith in the context of their families, as well as in the larger Muslim communities. Their influence and authority in the home and society will pave the way for the Gospel to be heard and obeyed by others.
From Thief to Giver
Ali (not his real name) was a man with a very hard heart. In the past he would ride trains and befriend people. When they fell asleep, he would steal their belongings, jump off the train and sell the things. He tried Islam but it did not change him. When his sister-in-law became a Christian he persecuted her. Later, however, he acknowledged Jesus as Lord and he is now one of the main leaders of the church! The transformation in his life has been nothing less than incredible! He is one of the most humble and loving men we know. This is especially seen in how he cares for his wife and daughters!
Thoughts that disturb ...
* Muslims often believe that the Bible has been altered and corrupted. They will deny its authority because they see it as not being authentic.
* Muslims believe the Holy Trinity implies a belief in three gods. Many Muslims believe that the Christian Trinity is made up of the Father, Mary (the virgin) and the Son (Jesus).
* They believe it is blasphemy to affirm the divinity of Jesus and to give Him the title “Son of God”. Many believe this implies that God had sexual relations with Mary and that a son was born physically through the union. (This idea is also unacceptable for Christians.)
Video Link: Dearborn, Arab Capital of America, history and info about Islamic Center in Dearborn [3:26]
Background information on the USA is on our site here ...>>
Thank you for this information about Muslims in Dearborn. Many Americans are not aware of the contributions Muslims have made to the community. I think I would like to visit the museum that was mentioned in the video. I'm am sending this site to friends from my church who have a concern for and love for Muslim.
I appreciate your ministry of prayer for the Muslim world, however it does concern me that while we pray for them 'we' (the West) are also bombing them and have targeted them for military and economic domination, as outlined in the US policy document Project for a New American Century and as shown by our military takeover of Iraq and Afghanistan and ongoing threats against Iran. Could some of us perhaps pray for repentance on the part of our own political establishment that we stop aggressive military actions against the Muslim world?
I lived in the South End and the East End of Dearborn for two years, the Yemeni and Lebanese areas respectively. It was wonderful to be in the midst of Arabic Islamic culture. Especially in the South End, where you can hear the call to prayer, 90% of the women are veiled (and 10% embittered Italians protesting on their steps in bikinis), the shops and signs in Arabic, with Yemeni coffee houses and a general appearance like you find in the Middle East. I do not say all these things are wonderful as inherent goods in their own right, but rather, because I got to experience them with the people, in the midst of something far closer to their own culture than anywhere else in America. It was valuable to be able to love them in the midst of where they are comfortable.
Regarding "(America's) "aggressive military action against the Moslem world", it was militant Islam that declared war on America. While we need to have compassion on those held under this ideology, we need to stan up against the terrorism perpetrated in its name.
salam alikoum.
I am Mourad, 37 old, new immigrant to the USA, from north africa, I am living in Florida, and because I am alone, I am feelling that I am stranger in this country, I would like to move to Dearborn, where I can find people who talk arabic, and can help me to grow in this country, I heard that Dearborn is pupled by a lot of muslim, I hope to go there, and be serrounded by muslim peple, which can help me to keep my religion and integrate in this society.
Salam alikoum, your friend Mourad,
your bible is filled with hate. and why are you trying to get a foot hold in a country that is against all your beliefs? Why come to America? no one trusts or likes you
. just leave...
some of your lovely verses:
Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme - 8:39
O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Those of you who make them his friends is one of them. God does not guide an unjust people.- 5:54
Muslims are harsh against the unbelievers, merciful to one another.- 48:25
Fight them so that Allah may punish them at your hands, and put them to shame.(verse cited in Newsweek 2/11/02)
Qur’an 47:4 “Strike off the heads of the disbelievers”; and after making a “wide slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives
allah is satan
You xyx!! U just called God, The Almighty, Satan. Allah is a translated word for God, the Almighty. Would you say Dios is Satan? Even arab-speaking christians say Allah! It is always wise to think before you speak, and to seek knowledge of things than you have no understanding of!
Comment edited by Admin, we allow positive conversation between Christians and Muslims and tolerate quite a bit, but we do not allow any hatred from any side. I hope that is now clear!
After this I wont comment here anymore, I have said all that I needed to say. If you are muslim, maybe you need to check yourself to see what you stand for. How dare you allow a non beliver to refer to Allah, lord and master of all satan,but censor me? Allah knows best.
ps. while your censoring...how bout "ron in cali"
[Comment deleted due to content. Admin.]
You people are stupid as hell to let these people in to our country. ISlam is the greatest threat to the world and to freedom. You are commiting suicide.
You are sooo ignorant and dont know anything you probally get all your info from the news . I feel sorry for you that you feel that way. My husband and children are all caucasion of European decent and where Christians and have been in the Military are now Muslims and trust me no one we have heard of or know nor we would ever do something stupid like that it even goes agianst Islam, but you have to wonder why would they do that? they must have to be really upset over something and seeing how people treat Muslims I can say they are breeding hate in people who would not otherwise feel so.
Tim made own interpretation of Quran. It is dangerous ! If you don't know or don't understand, consult a knowledgeble people . Don't translate one verse out of context. Tim doesn NOT know that, in Islam it is a great sin to kill, in Saudi Arabia which practice Islamic law fully, if a MUslim kills a man (Muslim or non Muslim, he (the offender) will be killed (as the only penalty). So.. what is Tim talking about ? The verses the Tim quoted is in reference to old wars between Muslim and the non Muslims. The non Muslim (jews, non Muslim Arab, Christian IN THE PAST) did not honour their sealed treaty with the prophets, so Muslim at that time were ordered to fight and defend. If you quote one versse, of out the many revant verses, you know.. the meaning and interpretation is deviate. WRONG INTERPRETATION ! DANGEROUS. Muslim if they are not a scholar, are advised that they CANNOT interpret on their own any verses. Ask, if they dont know. If we listen to Tim's translation it is like in Saudi Arabia for example, it is legal, allowed to kill anyone !! (of course he got from souces at his disposal maybe correct- but to pick one verse out of the many by unbeliever is wrong !)
Ron also difficult and immature maybe. You know..many political 'terrorists" used the name of "Islam"
to achieve their POLITICAL goal by killing and bombimg innocent peoples ! It is against Islamic teaching. Unfortunately they were Muslims. But terrorist in Northern Islan that bombed, killed peoples were NOT Muslim ! They are Irish separatist. You remeber, not a very long time ago the one who bombed Oklahoma was not a Muslim but Timothy McVey ?
I believe, maybe those Muslim who did those un speeakable things were so upset with unfair treatment to their countries, Muslims, as happened in Palestine, Russia, Kosovo, Chehnya etc. I think you will act the same if your family is attacked, killed, or threatened in all aspects like in those countries. Will you keep quite if your family is being attacked and killed ? So it happened to be Muslims. It is NOT FAIR to close you eyes and say "Muslim is terrorist" by generalizing all of them. Are you matured enough ?
For sure thing, in Islam it s wrong, a great sin to kill the innocent peoples. Even in a war, women, children, handicapped, the olds MUST be spared. This means you cannot shoot your enemy if those innocents were there. You are allowed to kill the army only. Please read hadiths (the saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) if you dont believe me. So, pls. don't accuse anything by your lack of knowledge. TQ
Here are some websites that you can check out:
http://www.faithfreedom.org
http://www.morethandreams.tv/index.html
http://www.gilead.ws/answeringislam.html
Thanks!
God bless you!
There certainly seems to be a lot of "misunderstanding" with the quran...
Everytime someone calls out some of the hate filled verses so prevalent in their holy book, some muslim rushes to say how we are "taking it out of context" or how we aren't "scholars" and can't begin to understand....
I agree, it's only a book after all. I choose to base my opinion on how muslims ACT, not what they read. The thing is, there is no separation between the book and the acts...read the papers, surf the internet, islam is responsible for countless acts of barbarity since it's inception.
http://www.jihadwatch.com
Nasaei claims that the war verses quoted above were from "old times", but look at islam in practice today in Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and yes in Saudi Arabia too. Women are enslaved, leaving islam means death, honor killings are abundant, the list of atrocities is long. Islamic police pushed 14 girls back into a burning school, to their death, because they rushed out without their head coverings. This is islam, stand up and take notice. Try to preach Christianity in Saudi Arabia....heh, try to speak your mind about anything, anything at all in any of these countries and see what happens.
The UK is probably lost, and will be islamic within 15 years, in large part due to multiculturalism and political correctness. Just like the muslim above who wants to move from Florida to Dearborn, these immigrants do not become part of the meting pot, they dont integrate into society. Instead they create their own societies and grow in number until they can make fundamental changes in the gov't and way of life for non muslims. Sharia law anyone? No thanks.
Make no mistake, islam is not a religion, it is a political ideology, one which is bent on spreading itself throughout the world, subjugating non believers....
Dearborn is a dangerous example of the future.
@ Islamisevil....
Well that is one way of perciving it.........after all......Aren't ALL CHRISTIANS LIVING THE WAY CHRIST INTENTED THEM TO?
Be realistic.....Humans will be humans.....
My other problem is your persistence of how Muslims use the "misunderstanding" term to their defense......
Well to begin with......if ignorant people stop repeating the same allegations that they get from islamhate.com.....or theworldisgoingtoislam.com......or even islampropoganda.com that have been answered a millions times by individuals ....then i guess the muslims will back off.....
But if you try to attack muslims with your perception.....then they also have a right to defend themselves......Logical don't u think?
if you don't superimpose your opinion of what they are .....then i guess they will just be themselves.....Hmmm.....i guess that would be "radical" idea for you to follow though!
Take your "fear Mongering" baggage somewhere else....oh yeah go watch the tele....fox news is on!
(My ironic take is intended to shake up and mend...rather then instill hate.....take what you will )
Salam and peace be with you
@ islamisevil
In regards to your comments
" these immigrants do not become part of the meting pot, they dont integrate into society".
Have you ever heard of a mosaic? That is another way of looking at it.......yet has an artistic form to it too.......all the different parts/patterns/colors complete the whole picture.....
I guess that would again be a radical idea!
Think about it..........
Salam and peace be with you
Hummm, how about actually talking to a muslim instead of listening to the media!?....Wait! silly me, the media Always tells the truth!...right???
How about actually talking to the Almighty God and asking Him what He thinks and believes? People can say what they want, but the God of the world does not lie. Ask!
you see thats the problem with most people....they wanna talk without actually asking the group or person what it is really about. I was submerged in a Arabic only household for 6 straight months, and they are loving, and free! Honestly to me, Arab women have much more freedom than the so-called fundamentalist Christian woman. In the first 3 months of pregnancy you are able to get an abortion, easily!
i am a SUNNI muslim and from the family of Ahle Bait . to understand ISLAM go back to the earlier history of religions. the earlier prophets were sent for particular areas during a particular time with a particular mission. they were not given an international mission. copies of TORAH were lost and it does not exist in its original form. similiarly bible is not in its original form. it is available in its translation in corroupt form.QURAN is the only book in its original form on EARTH for the last 1400 years. the true copy of QURAN is with GOD THE ALMIGHTY. BESIDES IT IS PRESERVED in the hearts of people across the world and repeated day and night. further muslims present themselves before GOD without any intermediary like rabbi or pope. they are responsible for their acts. muslims believe that all prophets were born just like Adam and Eve (PBUT) from no where. the christian mission is bound to fail.
NEWS FLASH, not all muslims are from other countries. Christians...say what you will but by the hours many of you around the world are converting to Islam (like myself). Your beloved troops are failing and your 30 day mission WILL also fail. You will never get a beliver in Islam to turn your way. If a "muslim" does, he/she was never one to begin with. Who Allah has set on this strait path can never be lead astray. You Christians are cowards and are ran and controlled by fear. Of what?
All but The Almighty. And If you claim that you really do fear him alone, (as it says to in Qur'an and your own book) then know what ever he wills, will be. It is not our mission to make you muslim. Allah chooses who he wills for this path. Soo to sum it up......Get yourselves right!!!!!!
Well, I've heard both extremes here and have heard more about hate and prejudice than anything else. Your zealousy for your own cause and faith bliinds you all to the simple fact that we are all brothers and sisters on this world. The laws and religions you all speak so highly of are all creations of men who want to control and manipulate the masses to their own ends (whether for good or not). The Creator or Great Spirit does exist in each of us but cannot be described or comprehended by us in our current state. It is the spark of life that fuels all creation, all life, Yes even that statement presumes too much. Just as politicians try to keep their populations at each others throats to ensure their power is maintained so to do the religions of the world keep us apart and at each others throats. There can be no peace with doctrines such as the ones I hear in this chat vying for power over the minds and souls of men and women. Only when we all seek to find our own connection with spirit and take the personal path rather than the path dictated to us by others will we find true peace. When we are children, we can play together and never see the differences we all have as an obstacle. It is only when we "grow up" and learn to hate and learn that we are "better than the rest" that our true failure becomes evident. I am just as guilty for most of my life. How long will you continue to follow blindly and continue to fuel the hate. There are no sides, there is only truth. And the truth is within your heart, your child heart. Allah, God, Jehovah, Great Spirit whatever the name, it is universal in it's ideal...it is also unfortunate that it is twisted to serve anything but Allah, God, Jehovah, Great Spirit. Find your child heart and lose the hate for each other. Pride and self-righteousness is your greatest enemy. I wish you all bright blessings and peace in your hearts.
Tiffany,
if Allah chooses who he wills for this path, what's the point of getting ourselves right? Allah has either chosen us or has not, right? This is the elimination of free will that Islam teaches.
Little Mosque on the Prairie, CBC's hit Muslim Comedy series is available on DVD
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If we are talking about religion, we are talking about a way of knowing who God is. The character of the people in a the religion does not validate the religion, the correctness with which it describes God does. The God of the bible is not the god of the Quran. This is because the books describe fundamental differences between Allah and God. We have to recognize that first. Allah is alone and God is three persons in one God. Allah is distant and God through Jesus is a living relationship. There are several other differences as well. The choice of a religion is then the choice of naming your god.
Islam is in its essence a Christian heresy. Many of the writings in the Quran about Jesus are lifted from heretical texts that pre-date it by a couple hundred years (see infancy narratives of James). It is formally a denial of the divinity of Christ akin to the Arian heresy of two centuries prior to Muhammad. Sketchy revisions of other stories (notably that of Abraham and Ishmael) are also of debatable origin. This is the foundation upon which the Muslim claims the bible and torah were manipulated. History proves that the sources for the Quran are suspect, not the other way around.
So be it. In the interest of truth both the Muslim and the Christian have a duty to study history and read the text of the other religion otherwise they are flying blind. For the Christian this is easy but for the Muslim this is difficult because there are threats associated with looking outside of Islam for the truth. This is because the Christian has been set free by Christ and the Muslim is a slave to Islam. In this regard we can ask who is God and who is Allah. With God we are no longer slaves with Allah we submit.
Further, and I believe this is the point of the article, we must pray for one another and ourselves to discover the truth because one of us is being deceived, and we know who the deceiver is. So look at the qualities of your god and other gods and decide which one is true, and then follow.
I have recently moved to Dearborn, MI, and boy can i tell you, this is NO California! It is not as 'integrated' as many say it is. I go to University of Michigan-Dearborn, and that school is very diverse, but it is pretty obvious that once you pass Warren on Greenfield you are not 'Little Lebanon" anymore. I believe this separation comes from ignorance, and economic differences, but nonetheless Dearborn is a very interesting place!
i'm white and i am married an Arab that immigrated here from Lebanon, so don't bash me, I love him and his whole family!
What can I say....as an American I am horrified! There seems to be no acculturation within the Muslim population. It is absurd that a call of prayer can be heard, that women remain veiled, and store front signs are not even in English! They are an inclusive race of people who defame our society, speak bad of the country they CHOOSE to live in, and disregard the foundations that this country was built on. Taking note of the above "prayer starters", I noticed that women were again disregared....the statement says pray for new male believers... Again in the USA all are equal! Muslim women are not equal to their male counterparts, which is truly sad. Please stand up for your rights as an American and question what is going on in Dearborn, MI.
So I gather we should be equally horrified at the China Towns all across our nation or Little Italy's or all the Jewish communities as well. Maybe we should set our sites on the Amish next and persecute them? Or perhaps the Cubans in Florida? While I agree that people migrating to this country to make it their home should embrace this country's ideals of equality and freedom for all, I hope they do not embrace or adopt the bigotry, racism and intolerance displayed by some of our own countrymen and women. I would not expect them to forget their past history or way of life. Just as we did not expect the Italians, Germans, Cubans, Irish, Chinese, Scandinavian or multitudes of others to.
Pray for culturally relevent evanglism for Muslims in Derbon, Michigan!