The city of Dearborn in Michigan state is home to the largest Muslim population in the USA. It is also the largest Middle Eastern population outside of the Middle East. Dearborn is frequently targeted by the far-right who claim the city is the site of homegrown terrorism and under Sharia law.

In the West, particularly the USA, there is a one-dimensional view of Muslim communities. Dearborn is home to over eighty nationalities and each community expresses its faith uniquely. The town is thriving, even under the increasing weight of Islamaphobia. From Lebanese-Syrian immigrants arriving in the late 1800s to an influx of Middle Eastern immigrants through the Ford Motor Company in the 1950s, and in more recent years, refugees from Iraq, Syria, and Palestine, Dearborn remains an ever-changing community.

Eid Alawan, Dearborn resident.

Eid Alawan, Dearborn resident. 

Imam Hassan Qazwini, Dearborn

Imam Hassan Qazwini, Dearborn 

"My daughter Hiba was in 4th grade, and we were in Dearborn shopping. My daughter says, “Emma isn’t talking to me anymore, she won’t be my friend. I didn’t do anything, but she told me my religion teaches you to kill people”. I was outraged and spoke to the principal explaining that it is fundamentally wrong for a child to say things like that. It turned out Emma heard it from her parents. The media doesn’t help at all - there are biases and islamophobia. Since the terrorist attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka - we’ve stepped up our security. We’ve had a person come around Warren Mosque a year ago on a bicycle, taking photos and filming the building. I contacted the FBI, and within 24 hours, they found him. They prohibited him from coming to the property after seeing he was planning a terrorist attack.

Trump escalated racism, and the community continues to feel the effects. It has emboldened white supremacists. I'm just thankful that Emma and Hiba became friends again”.

We reach Najah’s father’s tombstone. On one side of his grave is the symbol for the United States Army, and on the other side is a depiction of Allah, Mohammad, and the Kaaba [Great Mosque in Mecca] in the middle.

“My father always wanted American flags on his grave, but we’ve taken them down for the wintertime. Shi’a graves are decorated with monuments and flowers, while Sunni graves are discreet. What is telling is the way American-Muslims adorn their gravestones. It's not just Quran or Arabic, but poems in English too, American flags and a celebration of history”.

Najah Bazzy 

"I was born into a Christian family in Orlando and we always went to church. I was eleven years old and visiting Universal Studios when I first noticed women in hijab. I was intrigued, and remember thinking how free the women seemed. My mother and I converted to Islam later in life. She converted first and then I followed her lead. 

When I first came to Zaman I was depressed, with low self esteem and struggling to find myself. I had growing pains. I have four kids. I came here for food and clothing first. The lady at the door encourage me to take sewing classes. Today is my last day at Zaman. I now have my own hijab business. I want to give back, and I hope I will be in that position".

Jennah at Zaman's offices in Inkster, Michigan

"When I moved to Dearborn, and I noticed a lot of women shied away from me. It hurt me badly to see how my ethnicity affects life here. It hurts me when I’m excluded, especially at Friday prayers. I have a great Iraqi friend, and she treats me as her sister, but I can often feel out of place in this community. Sometimes people look at me oddly, they see me and ask me if I’m Muslim. I think it’s rude and disrespectful. I don’t know what’s going on with the sisterhood of Islam. At this time, we need each other, especially when society already hates us. I’m not the enemy. As an African American Muslim woman, there is a lot against me. We need to stand united; after all, we all bleed the same".

Jennah at Zaman's offices in Inkster, Michigan

"It’s a crucial time for Muslims in America. The media works relentlessly to portray one image, and there’s a lot of pressure to work against it. There is an expectation of who we are. It’s a wonderful accomplishment we’ve all made to get into top universities. We all belong in the conversation. We've isolated in Dearborn so we don't have to deal with hatred. We’re lucky".

Nasreen

“My family came to the states three years ago. As an asylum seeker and Iraqi refugee, I share the accomplishment of getting into university with all of my family. I knew I could reach this, I knew within me regardless of my environment and doubts. Being American or not - I take the morals of being and living in America. I believe there are a lot of differences between another American citizen and me, in terms of the culture. The environment I grew up in has to be considered as the transition was difficult. My family struggled for three years, especially my parents. Their hard work had paid off by getting me into Harvard. When people outside the community look at us, they see us as one community. We’re not; the community makes up 100s of cultures and countries. We’re not the same people. We simply share a common ground.”.

Iman

"My parents are immigrants, and nothing was expected of me. No one thought I was capable of getting into Harvard. As a Muslim woman, this is a big moment. I didn’t have that head start. When I went to Harvard for two days, I felt the weight of the departure. The Muslim community at Harvard is tiny, but I won’t be concerned about it all. I’m there to educate myself in every way".

Mariam

Fordson Highschool in Dearborn, Michigan.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad in his office in Dearborn, Michigan.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad in his office in Dearborn, Michigan.

Mariam Eastman, Dearborn resident.

"I’ve been here six years and came straight to Dearborn from Iraq. My brother was living here. I came here as refugee status. I was bewildered when I arrived here. I wish I could read and speak English. I’m learning. I want to be independent, but I’ve had a lot of difficulty trying to learn English. I feel the opposite to the stereotype of ‘the Muslim woman’. To wear hijab is my honour and it’s never bothered me. I live a normal life and I’ve never felt isolated because of it. I know my family feels the same way.

After all, you say goodbye once, but hello twice”.

Salima at Zaman, a charity run by Najah Bazzy that supports vulnerable women.