American Muslims and Civic Engagement | The Great Muslim American Road Trip

Research from the Pew Forum has shown that American Muslims are one of the most civically engaged faith communities in the United States. This video clip spotlights examples of Muslim Americans who are working to address social inequality, including the Al-Shifa Clinic in California run by doctors who offer free health services for the community, and a Muslim community in Las Vegas who offers reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals.

Background information on faith-based clinics across the U.S. is included in this resource, including a series of passages from the Qur’an highlighting the importance of charity and the obligations to serve others.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will aim to…

• Identify some of the main motivations by which American Muslims serve their community by drawing on examples from the film.
• Research and learn about ways that the Islamic faith seeks to instill an obligation to serve amongst its followers.