The Oxford handbook of American Islam

This timely offering from Oxford University Press is divided into three parts: Formation of the Muslim Community in North America; Institutionalization of Islam in North America; and Integration and Assimilation of Muslims. The contributors list is a virtual who’s who of Islamic scholars, particularly those who have written about American Islam.

The introduction poses a provocative question: “Could a Muslim become president of the United States?” (p. 1). Even though President Barack Obama is the son of a Muslim, we haven’t quite reached that milestone yet. It then goes on to explore Islam’s beginnings in the United States – the...