The Islamic Society of North America: Difference between revisions

'''The Islamic Society of North America''' (ISNA) is considered among the most influential organizations that represent the interests of Muslims in the United States and Canada. ISNA evolved from the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada (MSA), which was founded in 1963 by international students on North American college campuses. By opening its membership to all Muslim Americans, regardless of ethnicity or sectarian persuasion, ISNA has solidified its position among Muslim Americans<ref>Unus, I. J. (2024). Islamic Society of North America. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.887</ref>.

ISNA's story is that of a newly established Muslim American identity embraced by both "establishment" Muslim Americans and the United States government. The U.S. government supported ISNA after September 11, 2001, when national security interests required a Muslim American identity that could mediate between Muslim Americans and the Muslim world<ref>A History of the Islamic Society of North America (1979- 2008), https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/bitstreams/ad071c45-048a-4602-b6f9-8bb3c1d84d97/download</ref>.

Islam is the majority religion in several subregions, including Central Asia, Western Asia, North Africa, West Africa, the Sahel, and the Middle East. South Asia has the largest Muslim population, constituting about one-third of all Muslims worldwide. Islam is the dominant religion in the Maldives, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Furthermore, India has the largest Muslim population outside Muslim-majority countries, with over 200 million adherents. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is home to 23% of the world's Muslims, and Islam is the dominant religion in every country in the region except Israel<ref>Islam by country. (2025). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islam_by_country&oldid=1276085127</ref>.

Iran is one of the countries where Islam is declared the state religion. In his inaugural address on January 20, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the United States a “nation of Christians and Muslims, Hindus and Jews”. This was a defining moment in Muslim American history and demonstrated Iran's relationship with other Muslim countries<ref>Did you know... Muslim constitutions | uscirf. (2025, 1719:10:10). https://www.uscirf.gov/publications/did-you-knowmuslim-constitutions</ref> <ref>A History of the Islamic Society of North America (1979- 2008), https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/bitstreams/ad071c45-048a-4602-b6f9-8bb3c1d84d97/download</ref>.