Chief Imam of the Islamic Center of New York Says Islamic Outreach in America Continues to Grow
Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) held a public lecture titled ‘Islamic Dawah in the Land of America’ at the Hj. Sudalmiyah Rais UMS Mosque in Surakarta on Thursday, 21 May 2026. The Imam Besar of the Islamic Center of New York, H. Muhammad Syamsi Ali, Lc., M.A., Ph.D., attended as the main speaker to share his experiences of Islamic dawah in the United States. The event, which was attended by students and the UMS academic community, discussed the development of Islam in America, the challenges of dawah amid Islamophobia, and the importance of presenting a face of Islam that is peaceful and rational in the Western world.
Syamsi Ali recounted his life journey as a native of South Sulawesi who grew up in a modest environment and has lived in New York for almost 30 years. He said he came from a simple family and studied at Muhammadiyah pesantren from a young age.
“I am an asli kader Muhammadiyah. We are the real deal. We do not need to present ourselves in falseness,” he began his talk, which was met with laughter from the audience.
Syamsi Ali described his childhood as one known for fighting, until his parents enrolled him in Muhammadiyah Darul Arqam Gombara Makassar pesantren. From there, his life began to change.
He later obtained a scholarship to continue his studies in Pakistan for seven years before becoming a lecturer in Saudi Arabia and ultimately preaching in the United States since 1996. According to him, that life journey proves that humans can only strive, whereas the direction of life lies entirely in the will of Allah SWT.
Syamsi Ali depicted the United States as the strongest nation economically and militarily. However, behind that strength, he assessed that America is also on the brink of crisis due to arrogance as a superpower and moral issues developing within society.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the United States has a constitutional system that guarantees freedom of religion. This remains one of the main factors behind the growth of Islamic dawah in the country.
“We have full freedom to practise our religion and carry our religious mission on American soil. Their Constitution guarantees that,” he said.
Islamophobia
Syamsi Ali also touched on the 11 September 2001 attacks, which previously exerted substantial pressure on Muslims in America. He argued that the tragedy triggered an increase in Islamophobia, but on the other hand it made many Americans more interested in learning about Islam.
“Islam is unstoppable. It can be challenged, it can be stymied, but it cannot be stopped,” he said.
Syamsi Ali explained that the growth of Islam in America is supported by several factors, including Islam as a fitrah religion, the logical and rational teachings of Islam, the existence of legal freedom in America, and the peaceful conduct of Muslims.
He noted that Western society tends to welcome a rational approach to religion. Therefore, he reminded Muslims of the importance of presenting dawah that can be understood logically, especially for younger generations.
“Our religion is very logical and rational. The problem is sometimes we present Islam in an irrational way,” he said.
Additionally, he cited ongoing challenges to dawah in America, ranging from political sentiment against Islam, Western fear of the rise of Islam, to some Muslims’ failure to demonstrate the true values of Islam.