The inscription on thomas jeffersons tombstone, as he stipulated, reads here was buried thomas jefferson, author of the declaration of american independence, of the statute of virginia for religious freedom, and father of the university of virginia. In 2006, keith ellison became the first muslim elected to the united states congress. Islam and the founders, author denise spellberg draws parallels between the beliefs of the founding father and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading thomas jeffersons quran. The quran describes geographical concepts that were proven after its revelation. January 4, 2007, was anything but a slow news day, with the swearing in of. Congressman uses quran once owned by thomas jefferson in ceremony ap report 142007 emphasis added. What many do not know is that he used a copy of the quran which came from the personal library of one of the nations founding fathers thomas jefferson. When thomas jefferson consulted the quran, it was not out of respect for islam, but to find out what motivated the barbary states, enemies of. Why thomas jefferson owned a quran at the smithsonian. Ellison to take oath on thomas jeffersons quran newly elected rep. I never read a syllable in any such,wicked book, barnabas responds. As the nations library, and as a symbol of the central role that free access. Islam and the founders kindle edition by spellberg, d.
As a 22yearold law student in williamsburg, virginia, jefferson bought a quran 11 years before drafting the declaration of independence. Talal decided to translate the quran when he gave up all hope of finding an english translation that is at the same time highly accurate, and very easy to read. Spellberg reveals a littleknown but crucial dimension of the story of american religious freedoma drama in which. The central chapters of the book follow a more or less chronological. Actually, there is a little known fact that muslims have known for decades about thomas jefferson. If you arent in the know, repelect keith ellison is the first muslim elected to congress in the history of the u. Ellison to use thomas jeffersons quran javed of all. Ellison used a copy of the quran once belonging to former president thomas jefferson. Virgil goode of virginia, made a big stink about ellison s insistance on using the quran to swearin.
Thomas jeffersons quran documents the origins of such pluralism in the united states in order to illuminate where, when, and how muslims were first included in american ideals. I think we can assume that a future presidentelect trump is unlikely to swear the oath of allegiance using thomas jeffersons copy of the quran kept by the library of congress. Since then, talal has been studying the quran, researching it, and teaching it to others. The b ar bar y st at es wer e m ade u p of ter ritor y al ong t he nor ther n coas t of africa, incl udi ng m or occ o, alger ia. And good to his word, he took the oath of office with his hand on the quran. Spellberg reveals a littleknown but crucial dimension of the story of american religious freedoma drama in which islam played a surprising role. Quran oath controversy of the 110th united states congress. If thomas jefferson had known that a politician would one day be sworn in as a member of the united states congress holding a koran, he would have been shocked and frightened. Usa and embellishing the occasion by taking a ceremonial oath on the copy of the holy quran once owned by the third president of usa thomas jefferson. The story behind jeffersons koran, and what he did with it, is an instructive look at the power of accurate knowledge. A landmark new translation of the sacred text of islam in an elegant deluxe edition literally the recitation, the quran is considered within the muslim faith to be the infallible word of god. It may have been thomas jeffersons koran, but jefferson. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Jefferson had a bit of an addiction when it came to books.
Thomas jefferson 251 jects so strongly to the quran and asks him why. Among the 6,487 books that soon traveled north, jeffersons 1734 edition of the quran is perhaps the most. Speaker nancy pelosi swears in the first muslim member of the house of representatives, keith ellison of minnesota, on a twovolume quran once owned by thomas jefferson and now housed at the library. Ellison chose jefferson s quran because it demonstrated a visionary like jefferson believed wisdom could be found in various sources. At one point, he sold a substantial part of his collection to congress, to start the library of congress, to pay his staggering debts. Keith ellison, the quran, and thomas jefferson things.
Today, keith ellison, democratic congressman from minnesota was sworn in using the quran rather than the bible. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As the quran is the holy book for muslims, it would stand to reason that ellison would want to use his religious scriptures when he was sworn in. Until now, most historians have proposed that muslims represented nothing more than the incarnated antithesis of american values. The daybook of the virginia gazette records the purchase of this edition by jefferson in williamsburg in 1765. Ellison, the first muslim elected to congress, requested to take the oath upon jeffersons personal copy of george sales 1734 translation of the koran, commonly called the. Keith ellison made history in january 2007 by becoming the first muslim member of congress of usa and embellishing the occasion by taking a ceremonial oath on the copy of the holy quran once owned by the third president of usa thomas jefferson. I knew that jefferson had a quran, but when there was the media attention over its actual use by an american congressman, i couldnt believe it had survived. What thomas jefferson learned from the muslim book of jihad by. Obama, jefferson, and the holy koran the other half of. Ellison went on to use the english translation of a qur. Washington keith ellison made history in the nations capitol thursday, becoming the first muslim members of congress and punctuating the occasion by using a quran once owned by thomas jefferson during his ceremonial swearingin. This book looks at the discussion about islam in early america which makes one realise how little has changed, and what jefferson made of it.
Thomas jefferson secretly embraced islam and was a practicing muslim. Keith ellison announced last month that he planned to take the oath of office with his hand on the quran. We pray to almighty allah to help you learn to read the holy quran, and to do every good thing. He had to keep it a secret because he knew he was way ahead of his time and those around him would not understand. For example, it was the common dogma 1400 years ago that the earth was flat, but the quran described it as a sphere, compressed at each end like an ostrich egg. On friday, august th, president obama welcomed members of the muslim community to the white house to celebrate the islamic holiday of ramadan with an iftar banquet the meal served after the sunrisetosunset fast. He used the money, millions in todays dollars, to buy more books instead. Also, of course, thomas jefferson s quran was used by our first muslim congressman, keith ellison, in his private swearing in ceremony. Why jeffersons vision of american islam matters today. Thomas jeffersons quran the new american 01 september 2010 samuel l. Everything was fine and dandy until about two weeks ago, when a certain congressman, rep. Thomas jefferson april april 1743 july 4, 1826 was an american founding father, the principal author of the.
In 1765, eleven years before composing the declaration. Keith ellison on thomas jeffersons quran on point wbur. A new book argues that to understand the debate over church and state, we need to look to the founders views on islam, writes r. This work is free for use to everyone as long as no changes that might distort it are done to it. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Thomas jeffersons copy of the koran to be used in congressional. Virgil goode of virginia, made a big stink about ellisons insistance on using the quran to swearin. What happened to the seven churches of mentioned in the book of revelation. Ellison, a muslim, is sworn in using thomas jeffersons koran. In 2006, keith ellison, a newly elected congressman from the state of.
Muslim congressman, keith ellison, took the oath of office in 2007, he used a quran. In 2007, minnesota representative keith ellison, the first muslim elected to congress, swore in on thomas jeffersons quran. Ellison to take oath on thomas jefferson s quran newly elected rep. This marked only the beginning of his lifelong interest in islam, and he would go on to acquire numerous books on middle eastern languages, history, and travel, taking extensive notes on islam as it relates to english common law. Keith ellison made history in the nations capital yesterday, becoming the first islamic member of congress and punctuating the occasion by using a koran once owned by thomas jefferson during his ceremonial swearingin. The quran 1970 a freeflowing english translation by muhammad zafrulla. Tarif khalidi, the foremost scholar of islamic history and faith, provides a fresh english translation that captures the startling, exquisite poetry of one of the worlds most beloved religious texts. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Veteran dispatch february, 2007 democrat keith ellison is now officially the first muslim united states congressman. To make it even more interesting, he used thomas jeffersons own copy, which was a nice touch. Ellison chose jeffersons quran because it demonstrated a visionary like jefferson believed wisdom could be found in various sources. Keith ellison announced last month that he planned to take the oath of office with. Thomas jefferson owned a copy of the quran, which was the second edition of a 1734 translation by george sale, a twovolume set published in london in 1764.
When keith ellison was sworn into office as a congressman, he wanted to swear on a koran instead of a bible, so they used thomas jeffersons koran, which they borrowed for the occasion from the library of congress. The quran free pdf ebook english translation of the quran. Keith ellison was sworn in the other day as the first muslim elected to congress. Ellison is an afroamerican who converted to islam during his college years. On january 3, 2007, the washington post announced that ellison will hold the personal copy once owned by thomas jefferson lent to him by the rare book and special collections division at the library of congress mark dimunation, head of the rare book and special collections division at the library of congress and former resident of the congressional district ellison now represents said. Explore audibles collection of free sleep and relaxation audio experiences. This set was sold to the library of congress in 1815, and rebound by the library in 1918.
And the earth moreover,he has made egg shaped4 quran 79. Thomas jeffersons quran examines the intersection during the nations founding era of two contentious themes in culture warsthe relationship of islam to america, and the proper relationship between church and state. This was the volume on which newly elected representative keith ellison mn5, the first muslim congressman in. The story that it tells ought to be familiar to most americans, and is familiar to historians of the nations. Sillah1 the holy books are sacred texts that god sent down to his prophets who were commanded to use them as guides for human beings. Keith ellison, a democrat from minnesota, took his symbolic oath of office. Just recently, democrat keith ellison was sworn in as a democrat congressman by putting his hand on thomas jefferson s quran, which, in my opinion, is a testimony to ellison s great patriotism and knowledge of american history.
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