Muslim Americans’ Experience of the Pandemic at the Intersection of History, Culture, and Gender

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Muslims in the U. S during the COVID-19 pandemic. Religion has been playing an important role in individuals’ experiences of the pandemic. Many studies were essays on how to utilize a theological approach to respond to and cope with the pandemic. There is limited research on the impact of how Muslim communities in the U. S responded to the pandemic, particularly from the lens of Islamic history, religious beliefs, and attitudes, and being minoritized in a predominantly Christian country. Using an oral history approach, individual virtual interviews were conducted. The study revealed several main themes, such as the functions of religion, the influence of the pandemic on religious beliefs and traditions, and immigrant and refugee experiences. The implication of the interaction of history, culture, and gender in Muslim communities and their responses to the pandemic is discussed.