Ecology and Islam (Abdul-Matin's "Green Deen"‪)‬

Muslim Americans are slowly beginning to make their mark on their conflicted society. There are more Muslims than Jews in the US now--approximately 5 million. They are the most diverse of all American believers, 35 % born in the US (25 % Afro-American), the rest immigrants from southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally they have voted Republican, but have shifted to the Democratic and Green parties in recent years. Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is the son of black converts, raised in New York, a community organizer now environmental adviser to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. His book about Islam and the environment, Green Deen, is a stimulating overview of both the US environmental movement and how American Muslims are becoming part of it, bringing their own unique perspective.