Islam and the Idea of America: A Forgotten History

Mustafa Gurbuz•async.com

Islam and the Idea of America: A Forgotten History uncovers the forgotten dialogue between Islam and the West — from Newton’s hidden theology to Jefferson’s Qur’an and from John Locke's Islamic inspirations to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Sufi writings. Join a journey to discover the history of ideas revealing Islam’s influence on the Enlightenment, democracy, and the moral vision of America. Professor Gurbuz is teaching in the Arab World Studies program at American University, Washington, DC. He is an alumnus of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government by holding the Public Leadership Credential. This channel aims to publish educational content for a constructive public discourse. To support the production of this enriching and educational content, join the Substack community: https://islamandtheideaofamerica.substack.com © 2025 Islam and the Idea of America. All rights reserved.

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Episodes

The Untold Story: How Islam Shaped the English Enlightenment I Deep Dive Talk #2

In this Deep Dive conversation, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah explores how Islamic thought, texts, and intellectual traditions shaped the English Enlightenment—not at the margins, but at its very core. Drawing on his book Islam and the English Enlightenment: The Untold Story, Dr. Shah challenges the idea that the Enlightenment was a purely European or secular achievement. Instead, he reveals a forgotten world of translation, encounter, and intellectual exchange—where English theologians, philosophers, a...

Feb 08, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 6

Newton's Secret Faith: Islam and the Lost History of Enlightenment

Isaac Newton was not the deist Enlightenment myth made him out to be. In this episode, we uncover Newton’s secret theology—his fascination with monotheism, ancient wisdom, alchemy, and the hidden networks that shaped modern science. When we think of Isaac Newton, we imagine gravity, motion, and the birth of modern science. But hidden behind his public achievements was a private world of forbidden theology, ancient wisdom, and secret manuscripts—kept silent for nearly 300 years. In this episode, ...

Jan 25, 2026•16 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Islam and the English Enlightenment: A Conversation with Professor Humberto Garcia

In this Deep Dive conversation, Prof. Humberto Garcia (University of California, Merced) explains how Islam shaped the English Enlightenment—not as a side story, but as a missing link in debates about toleration, republicanism, secular governance, and liberty. We discuss Garcia’s groundbreaking book Islam and the English Enlightenment (2012) and trace the underground world of manuscript culture where radical Protestant dissenters read the Qur’an, debated the Trinity, and imagined “Protestant Muh...

Dec 27, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Protestant Mahometans: Islam, John Locke, and American Freedom I The Stories Untold (Episode 3)

Unlock a hidden chapter of history. 👀 This episode uncovers how radical English thinkers — once mocked as “Protestant Mahometans” — drew inspiration from the Ottoman Empire and Islamic ideas of tolerance, justice, and liberty. 👇 Join the conversation Free subscribers to the Islam and the Idea of America community on Substack will receive enriching bonus content, behind-the-scenes insights, and visual resources inspired by each episode. 📜 Episode transcripts and scholarly citations are also av...

Dec 13, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Hanged for an Idea: The Execution of “Al-Qur’an Vane” | The Stories Untold (Episode 2)

What if the man who helped shape America’s idea of liberty was once condemned as “too dangerous to live”? In this episode, we travel through 17th-century England and colonial America, uncovering how the ideas once mocked as “Mahometan” became the moral backbone of the modern West. To play it with video content, full Youtube playlist of The Stories Untold series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLALpVev6_EFwBYP_9Pc161mWPUWPRgM5y&si=EJDyXcfoDp9pByia 🔊 Auto-dubbed Spanish audio is available ...

Nov 27, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Why Islam and the Idea of America: The Untold Story of a Shared Civilization

Welcome to the launch of Islam and the Idea of America! In this first episode, we explore why this journey matters — why Islam’s intellectual legacy is central, not peripheral, to the story of Western and American ideas. From the Enlightenment to early colonial America, we uncover how Islamic thought helped shape the ideals of liberty, reason, and universal human dignity. Teaching at American University for over a decade, I’ve witnessed how students of all backgrounds light up when discovering t...

Nov 12, 2025•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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