The Face of Islam in America

Ingrid Mattson, a strong and independent woman living in Hartford, Connecticut, is not only one of the first women, but also one of the first convert and first North American-born to be the president of America’s largest Muslim group, Islamic Society of North America. Ingrid left the Catholicism that she was raised with in Canada and left college to commit the rest of her life to Islam. Not only is Ingrid focused on Islam and sharing the beliefs, but she is also beginning a new school for the Islamic community. “… I'm concentrating on building a strong religious and civic institutional life for Muslims in America. I want to be sure I'm not the first and last young woman leader. Why be a flash in the pan?” says Ingrid.

Ingrid’s main goal is not to focus on eternal religion – submission to God, respect for the Prophet, prayer, and charity – but to focus on the religion as a whole and a community. Ingrid also enforces the idea of equality amongst men and women in her institution. It is traditional in Islam to be a male-dominant society, however Ingrid promises equal opportunity for all. When she was asked about men being in the front of the mosque and women in the back for prayer, Ingrid replied with, “When you are bowed in prayer. You are not in front or behind any person. You are in front of God. That's the whole point of prayer.”

Ingrid also appears on talk shows and conferences with speeches about terrorism in the United States. Ingrid never seems to be radical on anything. She allows her group to take strong positions against terrorism, however she will never be against the government. She makes sure to never criticize the government’s policies. The Islamic Society of North America continues to discuss the diversity within Islam, however, Ingrid finds a way to do such without modernizing Islam.

Ingrid continues to appear at conferences and shows to talk about her programs and how diversity and equality is necessary within the religion of Islam. This activist fights on despite the criticism and speaks out her beliefs of how her religion should be. Ingrid says, “I want to build something. I'm interested in long-term institutional strength.” And that is what she has brought into America’s Islamic society.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-08-20-mattson-islam_N.htm