AMSS Regional Conference The Place of Islam in America

Abstract

On April 12, 2003, the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS), in
collaboration with the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) of the
University of Utah, held its first regional conference in Salt Lake City,
Utah. The day-long conference, "The Place of.Islam in America," included
panel discussions and workshops. The first panel dealt with "Images and
Perceptions of Islam in America," and the second panel focused on "The
Emerging Muslim Community: Opportunities and Challenges." Toward the
end of the program, both the panelists and the audience participated in three
workshops: "Challenges of Raising a Muslim Child," "Examining the Utah
Muslim Community," and "Muslim Youths Dealing with Temptations and
Peer Pressure." Louay Safi (president, AMSS) and Sayyid M. Syeed (general
secretary, ISNA) gave the two keynote addresses.
At the beginning of the conference, Abdul-Qayum Mohmand, program
coordinator, welcomed the panelists and the guests and stated that: "Since
the Muslim community is part of the social and political construct of this
society and contributes to the build up of this society in many aspects, it is
vital for them to find out where they are placed in this society."
In his opening remarks, Safi talked about the importance of the Muslims'
political and social positioning in the United Stated and pointed out that
"American Muslims have a great opportunity to develop Islamic thought and
institutions for modern-day society." He stressed that "faced with new social
challenges stemming from modernist trends, American Muslims possess aU
the ingredients they need to develop solutions with far-reaching impact on
improving the quality of life both in the U.S. and throughout the Muslim
world." He expressed confidence that the conference deliberations are part of
the Muslim American struggle to better the human condition.
In the first panel, James Toronto (associate professor oflslamic studies,
Brigham Young University, Utah) focused on the challenges and responsi bilities
of the American Muslim community. Calling upon its members to ...