Republished for the first time since 1873, this forgotten and rare historical treasure is invaluable for any reader interested in American history in general and U.S. Civil War, African American, African and Muslim history in particular. It is the story of an African Muslim, born Mohammed Ali Ben Said, who was enslaved on three continents, mastered nine languages, traveled to over thirty cities, came to America a free man and fought in the U.S. Civil War from 1863-1865 both as a corporal and a sergeant before going on to start schools for Blacks in the South and in his words show the world the possibilities that may be accomplished by the African … and stimulate some at least of my people to systematic efforts in the direction of mental culture and improvement. The discovery of this book has been described as an astounding discovery and achievement, and a significant addition to the canon of African-American writing. It is edited and introduced by Precious Rasheeda Muhammad, who discovered this overlooked text and reintroduced it to the world as the first publication of Journal of Islam in America Press (JIAP), a division of Sojourners' Truth Publishing Ltd (STPL). Ms. Muhammad is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and founder/CEO of STPL.
Precious Rasheeda Muhammad is a 27-year-old African American Muslim woman. She graduated from Harvard Divinity School in June 2001 with a Masters of Theological Studies. While at Harvard, Muhammad focused on Islamic Studies. She also founded, in 2000, and spearheaded the Islam in America conferences at Harvard to educate the Harvard community and general public about the growth and development of Islam in America and to promote tolerance, fellowship and understanding. Now in its fourth year of production, and carried out as an annual event, the conference has educated people around the world about Islam in America. Muhammad was recently featured on the WB channel for her work and awarded an Unsung Hero Award by the television station. She has been featured on africana.com, blackvoices.com, communitywomen.com and was the first student ever profiled on the Harvard Divinity School website. In the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, Muhammad has travelled to France, Morocco, Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan. Muhammad is also founder and president of Journal of Islam in America Press (JIAP), an educational publishing company dedicated to publishing a broad range of titles on the growth and development of Islam in America and the Muslim American experience as well as to embrace and engage in charitable undertakings, wherever appropriate, that promote tolerance, fellowship and understanding. Journal of Islam in America Press is a division of Muhammad's publishing company, Sojourners' Truth Publishing Ltd.
In 2000, Muhammad discovered an overlooked autobiography, The Autobiography of Nicholas Said, of an African Muslim born Mohammed Ali Ben Said, who was enslaved on three continents, mastered nine languages, traveled to over thirty cities, came to America a free man and fought in the U.S. Civil War from 1863-1865 both as a corporal and a sergeant before going on to start schools for Blacks in the South and in his words "show the world the possibilities that may be accomplished by the African and stimulate some at least of my people to systematic efforts in the direction of mental culture and improvement." The Autobiography of Nicholas Said, which Muhammad edited and introduced, became the first publication of JIAP. Muhammad's next publication, to be released in 2002, is The Chronicle of Islam in America. THE CHRONICLE OF ISLAM IN AMERICA (TCIA), a scholarly journal, is securing its position to become the first, most widely read and accessible scholarly resource for research and information covering the spectrum of domestic and international issues germane to the growth and development of Islam in America and the Muslim American experience. The scope of THE CHRONICLE OF ISLAM IN AMERICA is objective and educational.
