Turning Insult into Opportunity: Anti-Sharia Sentiments in America and their Implications for American Muslims

By: Celene Ayat Lizzio

“A September 2011 resolution of the Fiqh Council of North America, a body of esteemed American Muslim religious scholars, takes just this stance. In their statement entitled: “On Being Faithful Muslims and Loyal Americans,” the members of the council strongly affirm that Islamic values and modern, Western, secular, democratic values both seek to uphold “universal moral values which are accepted by the majority of people of all backgrounds” and argue that: “no inherent conflict [exists] between the normative values of Islam and the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.” Furthermore, to suggest that there is a conflict between being loyal American citizens and being faithful Muslims is “misleading,” suggests the resolution. In their resolution, the members of the council condemn “hate mongering and fear propaganda” as counter to both religious and American values. “