Ebook: Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials

Increasing numbers of Muslim candidates for office are entering the U.S. political system at every level from local to state and federal; and, while we applaud civic engagement by all citizens in our democratic system, we also are mindful that Islam is a faith like none other in the obligation levied on its followers to place Islamic Law (shariah) above any other law, including the U.S. Constitution.

Obviously, this sets up a conundrum for those candidates for political office who are devout and practicing Muslims. Indeed, Andre Carson (IN-D), who currently represents Indiana’s 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has openly urged fellow Muslims in explicit terms to represent Islam as an elected official in the U.S. government:

"Each and every one of us has a directive to represent Islam, in all of our imperfections, but to represent Islam … Such declarations set up a direct challenge to Article VI Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, to which each and every Member of Congress, House and Senate, is pledged under oath to uphold."

With his newest book, "Islamic Doctrine versus The U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials," author and scholar of Islam Stephen M. Kirby, Ph.D. has drawn upon a series of essays first published on PipelineNews.org. Dr. Kirby has elucidated the very direct conflicts between Islamic Law and the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 13th, and 14th Amendments to the Constitution. But one might ask, aren’t all Members of Congress obligated to swear or affirm an oath to support that Constitution? So, how could a Muslim official take such an oath and yet remain true to both his faith and the Constitution he has pledged to uphold?

As this book goes to print, the U.S. is heading into another presidential election year (2020). The sobering reality of what devout, faithful, observant Muslims actually believe and are bound to obey must be a factor in the responsibility of every citizen to be both informed and engaged in the political process. Dr. Kirby’s scholarship in this regard could not possibly be more timely and is made of even more practical use by the 10th and final chapter in the book, where he proposes a number of considerations and possible questions for the American citizen who may want to attend a campaign event where a Muslim candidate will be available for Questions and Answers.

The entire text of "Islamic Doctrine versus The U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials" may be thought of as a handbook for the citizen voter.