Literature About Islam in America A Survey of Source of Information by Muhammad Tahir and Siddiq ‘Ali

Abstract

Information explosion is a modern phenomenon. This explosion can be
seen in all areas of knowledge. In an attempt to keep track of this growth,
secondary sources of information have also mushroomed. Each subject field
has its own secondary sources of information. For instance, art has Art Index,
education has Education Index, library science has Library Literature.
Despite these developments in indexing, and despite the progress in interdisciplinary
studies, internationally in general and American in particular,
literature on Islam and Muslims rarely gets the place it deserves. Sources of
seeondaq information should be scanned to determine how far they cover information
on Islam and Muslims. This would help us to understand the importance
given to Islam and Muslims by American writers.
A scholar looking for sources of infannation on Islam in the United States
is bound to be disappointed. It is surprising that no exhaustive attempt has as
yet been made to gather information on Islam in one place. This despite the
fact that Islam has emerged as one of the important religions followed by a
substantial number of Americans. In addition, the emergence of the Arab and
Gulf nations as important centres of economic power in the world has led
many Americans to take an interest in Islam and Muslims. As against the
neglect by the Americans, the Eumpeans have come out with an index of
Islamic literature in European languages entitled Index Islamicus. This comprehensive
work finds no parallel anywhere in the world.
As no attempt has been made yet to bring together all the information
about Islam available in the United States, it is necessary to look deep into
every book, journal, newspaper, film, and tape, etc. It is both surprising and
shocking to note a sordid treatment meted out to literature on Islamic Studies.
The population of Muslims in the United States is not so negligible as to warrant
such a stepmotherly treatment at the hands of those who are at the helm of ...