Ahmed Nassef

Somewhere between 4 and 8 million Muslims reside in the United States—a number that is rapidly growing. In the viewpoint that follows, Ahmed Nassef argues that a gulf exists between American mosques and other religious institutions, which tend to be very conservative, and the liberal views of many Muslim American men and women. He argues that Islam may well evolve in the United States to better reflect prevalent American values regarding women’s equality, tolerance, and other matters. Nassef, a writer and marketing consultant, is the founder of MuslimWakeUp.com, an online magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Where have many Islamic clergy had their training, according to Nassef?
2. What barriers to participation in religious life do American Muslim women face, according to the author?
3. What evidence of...