Thomas jefferson owned a copy of the quran, which was the second edition of a 1734 translation by george sale, a twovolume set published in london in 1764. It was one of the 6,500 jefferson books archived in the library. If you arent in the know, repelect keith ellison is the first muslim elected to congress in the history of the u. The complicated history of thomas jeffersons koran the. It once belonged to thomas jefferson, third president of the united states and one of americas founding fathers.
He demanded use ofand received permission from the library of congress to use thomas jefferson s own personal copy of the koran on which to. Keith ellison of minnesota, americas first muslim member of congress, used jefferson s koran when he took his oath into office in 2007. Thomas jefferson, like all us presidents, was sworn in on a bible. Keith ellison, the first muslim member of the house of representatives, took his 2007 oath of office on jefferson s koran. Ellison and jeffersons quran koran keith ellisons presence in the united states congress is not evidence of tolerance but of suicidal foolishness. Why thomas jefferson owned a quran at the smithsonian. Democrat keith ellison is now officially the first muslim united states congressman. Thomas jefferson read the quran april 4, 2011 at 2. Just recently, democrat keith ellison was sworn in as a democrat congressman by putting his hand on thomas jefferson s quran, which, in my opinion, is a testimony to ellison s great patriotism and knowledge of american history. However, thomas jefferson owned a quran and when congressman keith ellison took his oath, he chose to use thomas jeffersons quran as the book that he would swear in on. Keith maurice ellison born august 4, 1963 is an american politician and lawyer serving as the 30th attorney general of minnesota. First muslim in congress to use historic quran politics.
Forgive me, but america should not give a hoot what keith ellisons favorite book is. Ellison borrowed it from the rare book section of the library of congress. Jefferson quran incoming minnesota representative keith ellison became the first muslim member of the u. Keith ellison on thomas jeffersons quran december 09, 20 this article is more than 6 years old.
Congress, attacked for planning to use the quran at his swearingin instead of a bible, will use a copy of the muslim holy book once owned by thomas jefferson. He was sworn in last month to serve in the house of representatives as a united states congressman after being elected last november from the 5th district of minnesota. First muslim congressman excites crowd in hezbollah city. Ellison had explained the importance of this ceremony in an interview the day before, in a private ceremonyill put my hand on a book that is the basis of my faith, which is islam keith ellison and the jefferson koran, the nation the beat blog, january 3, 2007. Muslim congressman takes oath of office on jeffersons quran.
Islam in america dates to the founding fathers, says smithsonians religion curator peter manseau. Bill olearythe washington post this week, like other new members of congress, incoming michigan rep. So there was the findingout part that he owned it, and then there was the fact that it still existed. Was thomas jefferson sworn in with a quran answers. Every muslim is an enemy of freedom and of those who refuse to bow to muhammads murderous and selfserving fraud of a book. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, dont serve in congress.
Ellison to be sworn in using quran once owned by thomas. In the 1700s, an english translation of the quran or koran actually became a bestseller among protestants in england and its american colonies. Ellisons photoop reenactment of his swearing in ceremony with thomas jeffersons quran in midnovember 2006 it was reported that keith ellison, the first muslim ever elected to the united states congress as a representative for minnesota s 5th congressional district, would take his oath of office with his hand on the quran. He also served as the titular deputy chair of the democratic national committee from 2017 to 2018. Keith ellison announced last month that he planned to take the oath of office with his hand on the quran. What thomas jefferson learned from the muslim book of jihad. My congressman, keith ellison, was sworn in with his hand on the quran thomas jefferson s copy, actually it made a lot of people upset. It once belonged to thomas jefferson, third president of the united states and one of america s founding fathers.
Ellison to take oath on thomas jeffersons quran newly elected rep. I knew that jefferson had a quran, but when there was the media attention over its actual use by an american congressman, i couldnt believe it had survived. Just so no one thinks the bible is exclusive for that ceremony. Jefferson bought this book while he was a young man studying law, and he may have read it in part to. One of many muslim, hindu and buddhist texts that the author of the declaration of independence donated to the library of congress at its founding, the jefferson koran has been loaned to ellison. Also, of course, thomas jeffersons quran was used by our first muslim congressman, keith ellison, in his private swearing in ceremony. Islam in america dates to the founding fathers, says smithsonians religion thomas jefferson s twovolume personal copy of george sales. Jefferson s personal copy of the quran drew attention in early 2019 when rashida tlaib. Representative for minnesotas 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2019.
Congressman, was sworn in, he started a firestorm of controversy when he requested to be sworn in using the quran. The decision by the minnesota democrat, the first muslim elected to congress, drew criticism. Quran oath controversy of the 110th united states congress. What thomas jefferson learned from the muslim book of. January 4, 2007, was anything but a slow news day, with the swearing in of.
Philosophy and religion government congressional representatives elections privileges and immunities religious aspects legislators oaths. At his ceremonial swearingin, keith ellison of minnesota, the first muslim elected to congress, placed his hand on an islamic holy text, a twovolume quran once owned by thomas jefferson. Did thomas jefferson swear his oath of office on the koran. Ellison, the first muslim elected to congress, requested to take the oath upon jeffersons personal copy of george sales 1734 translation of the koran, commonly called the alcoran of mohammed london. Rashida tlaib d will take her first oath of office. A spokesman for ellison said the new congressman wants this to be a special day, and using thomas jefferson s quran makes it even more special. What thomas jefferson learned from the muslim book of jihad by. The daybook of the virginia gazette records the purchase of this edition by jefferson in. Rashida tlaib to take oath on thomas jeffersons koran. Insofar as a member of congress taking an oath to serve america and uphold its values is concerned, america is interested in only one book, the bible. True to his pledge, he placed his hand on the quran, the muslim book of jihad and pledged his allegiance to the united states during his ceremonial swearingin. Veteran dispatch february, 2007 democrat keith ellison is now officially the first muslim united states congressman. This set was sold to the library of congress in 1815, and rebound by the library in 1918. However, thomas jefferson owned a quran and when congressman keith ellison took his oath, he chose to use thomas jefferson.
On thursday, it will not be virgil goode who pays tribute to jefferson. Speaker nancy pelosi swears in the first muslim member of the house of representatives, keith ellison of minnesota, on a twovolume quran once owned by thomas jefferson and now housed at the library. Why the quran was a bestseller among christians in 18th. Ellison, a muslim, is sworn in using thomas jeffersons koran. Congress, will use a quran once owned by thomas jefferson during his. Muslim congressman takes oath of office on jefferson s quran. Ellison to use thomas jeffersons quran javed of all. America, not keith ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on. Keith ellison made history in january 2007 by becoming the first muslim member of congress of usa and embellishing the occasion by taking a ceremonial oath on the copy of the holy quran once owned by the third president of usa thomas jefferson.
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