Shia Islam in the Americas
A 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center estimated that 10-13% of Muslims worldwide adhere to Shia Islam, with a global total of between 154 million and 200 million Shia Muslims. In the Americas, Pew estimated a population of just under 4.6 million Muslims overall in 2009, with a small portion of those being Shia.[2]
The Pew survey estimated a Shia population of 300,000 Shias in North America, about 10.0% of North America's Muslim population.[2] Also, according to Shafaqna News agency, Shiite (Shia) Muslims are approximately 2.5 million persons in the U.S.[3]
North America
A 2009 Pew survey estimated that around 300,000 Shias lived in North America (including the United States), about 10% of North America's Muslim population.[2] American Shia Muslim community are from different part of the world such as South Asia, Europe, Middle East, and East Africa.[4][5] They are mainly from Arab countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, as well as non-Arab countries such as Iran, Pakistan and others. The second group of Shiites are Americans who have become Shiites in a variety of ways. The population of Shiite Muslims in the United States is about 900,000, which is 15% of the total Muslim population in the country.[6]
Those Shia Muslims have many activities and founded several organization such as Islamic Center of America and North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities Organization (NASIMCO).[7]
The first group of immigrant Shiites migrated to the United States from Lebanon and Syria about one hundred and eighty years ago (1824-1878). These Shiite Muslims migrated to cities such as Detroit, Michigan, and Ross (California) and North Dakota.[6]
In Brazil
Brazil, a vast South American country, has approximately one million Shia Muslims from the time of the Ottoman Empire. Many Lebanese emigrants to Brazil resulted in an increase Shia beliefs. In Brazil, Shia Muslims generally live in an area known as Curitiba. They have many activities and have established several Islamic centers and institutes for the propagation of Shia beliefs and the message of Ahl al-Bayt. For this reason, there are several related places for Shia Muslims in Sao Paulo, such as the Prophet of Allah Muhammad mosque and the Imam Khomeini Islamic Center. Also, Shias have one mosque, Imam Ali mosque, where Shia and Sunni may pray together. In recent years, Shia and Sunni scholars have had several meetings with each other. Many Shia's books are translated into Portuguese such as Nahjul Balagha.[8]
In Canada
The population of Shiite (Shia) Muslims in Canada is approximately 300,000 people (who are including Twelvers/Ismailis), out of about 850,000 Muslims who are in the country. The majority of the mentioned—Shia—Muslims are Iranians, Pakistanis, Iraqis, Syrians, Lebanese, Indians, Afghans, Azeris; and are also from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.[9]
There are more than 360 mosques and Islamic centers in Canada, 80 of which are owned by Shiite Muslims.[10]
In Venezuela
At the moment, Venezuela possesses 15 Islamic civic associations which are located in ten states. Arab immigrants, Venezuelans, and Creoles form Islam as a known tradition. The closest estimate of when Islam came to the country is “centuries ago.” The number of Muslim people in Venezuela estimates from 800,000 to approximately one million people.[11]
Shia organizations in the Americas
- The Islamic Center of America is a Shia mosque in Dearborn, Michigan. It is the oldest Shia mosque in the United States and the largest in North America[12][13][14] (founded in 1963).[1] The institution known as "heart of Shiism" in the United States.[15][16]
- North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities (NASIMCO) is a religious-cultural organization for Shia followers in the North of America. Islamic education board of the NASIMCO have investigated and standardized Shia books and also published several references in Shia history and theology.[4][7][17]
- The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars was founded in North America in 1994 and is known as the central organization for Shia followers.[4]
- The Al-Khoei foundation was established in the 1980s by Seyyid Abul Qasim Musawi Al-Khoei, Grand Ayatullah and scholar of Shia in New York.[4][7]
- Al Baqee Organization is registered in 2003 in Illinois and is known as the central organization for leading initiatives and activism on the preservation and restoration of Islamic heritage globally.[18]
Several other organizations and institutions are active in the Americas, including:[19]
| Provence | Organization(s) |
|---|---|
| California |
|
| Connecticut |
|
| Georgia |
|
| Idaho |
|
| Illinois |
|
| Massachusetts |
|
| Maryland |
|
| Michigan |
|
| Minnesota |
|
| Missouri |
|
| Nebraska |
|
| New York |
|
| New Jersey |
|
| Ohio |
|
| Oregon |
|
| Pennsylvania |
|
| Texas |
|
| Virginia |
|
| Washington |
|
| Canada |
|
See also
References
- ^ a b Michigan Islamic Center The Shiite Heart of America Retrieved 11 April 2022
- ^ a b c Mapping the Global Muslim Population, Pew Research Center (October 7, 2020).
- ^ Shiite justice teachings in the westernmost society of the world / The ups and downs of two and a half million Shiites in America Retrieved 2 April 2023
- ^ a b c d Daniel Brumberg; Dina Shehata (2009). Conflict, Identity, and Reform in the Muslim World: Challenges for U.S. Engagement. US Institute of Peace Press. pp. 366–370. ISBN 978-1-60127-020-7.
- ^ "Mapping the Global Muslim Population". pewforum.org. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ a b Shiism in America Retrieved in 24 June 2022
- ^ a b c Mohsen Saleh (1 January 2009). American Foreign Policy and the Muslim World. Al Manhal. p. 179. ISBN 978-9953-500-65-2.
- ^ "Shia Muslims Around the World". imamreza.net. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ^ World Shia Muslims Population Retrieved 29 January 2022
- ^ Canadian Shiite Islamic Association Retrieved 29 June 2022
- ^ Venezuela -- World Shia Muslims Population Retrieved 8 February 2022
- ^ The Doha Debates: Bio for Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini Archived 2015-06-19 at the Wayback Machine retrieved February 12, 2012
- ^ New Dearborn mosque to be the nation's largest. Michigan Daily, January 7, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ Islam's US faithful are happy to embrace the American dream, Daily Telegraph, July 23, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ Victoria Advocate: "American Shias struggle with their future" July 25, 2009
- ^ Daily Telegraph: "Islam's US faithful are happy to embrace the American dream July 23, 2005
- ^ Mohamed Nimer (January 2002). The North American Muslim Resource Guide: Muslim Community Life in the United States and Canada. Taylor & Francis. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-415-93728-3.
- ^ "About Baqee Organization".
- ^ "List of Shia Organizations in the Americas".