I have talked a little about ellison, this is a great piece on him and the jefferson quran. What thomas jefferson learned from the muslim book of jihad. Thomas jefferson read the quran april 4, 2011 at 2. Keith ellison sworn in using jeffersons quran lpsg. A spokesman for ellison said the new congressman wants this to be a special day, and using thomas jeffersons quran makes it even more special. In midnovember 2006 it was reported that keith ellison, the first muslim ever elected to the united states congress, would take his oath of office with his hand on the quran. Keith ellison of minnesota utilized a copy of the quran for the ceremonial photo op pose with the speaker of the house following his swearingin. In 1786, thomas jefferson and john adams met with tripolis ambassador to. Did thomas jefferson swear his oath of office on the koran. When incoming lawmaker keith ellison, the first muslim elected to congress, took the oath of office jan. Jefferson, one of historys greatest advocates of religious liberty, opposed all forms of statesponsored religion, and ellisons use of his quran was a nice conclusion to an ugly episode. Keith ellison was sworn in the other day as the first muslim elected to congress. 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. In 2007, jeffersons copy of the quran was used by united states representative keith ellison dmn to take his oath of office.
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. The column attracted national attention from supporters of both ellison and prager. Did keith ellison use koran when sworn into office answers. The detailed request asked for sowerby item number 1457 from the catalogue of the library of thomas jefferson, a fivevolume work compiled with annotations by e. Jeffersons twovolume english translation of the quran had grabbed the national spotlight in january 2007, when keith ellison, the countrys first muslim congressman, chose to swear his private oath of office on the founders sacred text. The complicated history of thomas jeffersons koran the.
He was known to be an education man, welltraveled, and believed to have obtained the book because he had a personal interest in learning more about different cultures and civilizations. 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. And good to his word, he took the oath of office with his hand on the quran. Keith ellison, the quran, and thomas jefferson things. 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. A newly elected muslim congressman from minnesota turned the tables on his critics last month by taking the oath of office on a quran once owned by thomas jefferson. Keith ellison, the first muslim member of the house of representatives, took his 2007 oath of. Congressman, was sworn in, he started a firestorm of controversy when he requested to be sworn in using the quran. Ellison chose jeffersons quran because it demonstrated a visionary like jefferson believed wisdom could be found in various. 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. Ellison borrowed it from the rare book section of the library of congress. Congressman uses thomas jeffersons quran at swearing in. Solemn oaths januaryfebruary 2007 library of congress.
Because its the oath that matters, not what text you swear it on. Thomas jefferson, like all us presidents, was sworn in on a bible. Muslim congressman takes oath of office on jeffersons quran. Jeffersonquran incoming minnesota representative keith ellison became the first muslim member of the u. It was one of the 6,500 jefferson books archived in the library. In 2006, keith ellison, a newly elected congressman from the state of minnesota, and the first muslim elected to congress, took his oath of office on a qur an from thomas jefferson s personal library. Minnesota representative keith ellison became the first muslim member of the u. Today, keith ellison, democratic congressman from minnesota was sworn in using the quran rather than the bible. Quran oath controversy of the 110th united states congress. Just recently, democrat keith ellison was sworn in as a democrat congressman by putting his hand on thomas jeffersons quran, which, in my opinion, is a testimony to ellisons 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.
Ellison to take oath on thomas jeffersons quran newly elected rep. Keith ellison and rashida tlaib, both muslims, took the oath on thomas jeffersons personal copy of. Washington keith ellison made history thursday, becoming the first muslim member of congress and punctuating the occasion by taking a ceremonial oath with a quran once owned by thomas jefferson. Muslim congressman uses jeffersons quran to take oath of. In the end, ellison trounced his critics by sweating on a 250yearold quran that had once been owned by no less a personage than thomas jefferson. Ellison used a copy of the quran once belonging to former president thomas jefferson. Keith ellison announced last month that he planned to take the oath of office with his hand on the quran. John quincy adams took the oath of office to be president on a law bookin 1825. The story that it tells ought to be familiar to most americans, and is familiar to historians of the nations. To make it even more interesting, he used thomas jeffersons own copy, which was a nice touch. Us congressman creates history taking oath on thomas. The quran that congressmanelect keith ellison asked for is the personal copy of thomas jefferson.
Why thomas jefferson owned a quran at the smithsonian. Among the 6,487 books that soon traveled north, jeffersons 1734 edition of the quran is perhaps the most. Why was kyrsten sinema sworn in to congress using a copy. Yet ellison has been denounced as a constitutional blasphemer after discussing his upcoming oath of office. Ellison to be sworn in using quran once owned by thomas. Jeffersons quran politics and world issues forums t.
Early in december, dimunation received a phone message from ellison asking to use thomas jeffersons copy of the quran. Keith ellison in 2007 when the minnesota congressman took his own oath of office, according to the washington post. Jefferson, the nations third president, was a collector of books in all topics and languages. 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. It once belonged to thomas jefferson, third president of the united states and one of americas founding fathers. Capitol, is displayed at the library of congress, jan. Democrat keith ellison is now officially the first muslim united states congressman. The minnesota democrat has drawn fire from conservatives, including a fellow congressman from virginia, since he said in november that he would use the islamic holy book during. What thomas jefferson learned from the muslim book of jihad ted sampley jan 01, 2007 u.
A disinterested congress decided to pay the ransom. Thomas jeffersons quran by denise spellberg not even past. Jeffersons quran was a 1734 translation by a british lawyer named george sale. Historians have attributed the third presidents ownership of the muslim holy. Thomas jefferson on muslims and tripoli ron paul forums. Veteran dispatch democrat keith ellison is now officially the first muslim united states congressman. Ellison, who was born in detroit and converted to islam while in college, said he chose to use jeffersons quran because it showed that a visionary like jefferson believed that wisdom could be gleaned from many sources. 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. Instead, he proposed to congress the formation of a coalition of allied nations who together could force the islamic states into peace. Rashida tlaib to swear in for congress with jeffersons. Published 2007 by jonathan turley the newest member of the minnesota delegation, keith ellison, would appear to be the very model of a godfearing congressman whom conservatives have longed for. It was the first direct translation of the quran from arabic to english the only other english version was a. Among the 6,487 books that soon traveled north, jefferson s 1734 edition of the qur an is perhaps the most surprising.
Ellison had already planned to be sworn in using a quran. Close up keith ellison walking into room with his family 3. In 2007, minnesota representative keith ellison, the first muslim elected to congress, swore in on thomas jeffersons quran. First muslim congressman sworn in using quran youtube.
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