This is Day Seven of the #30Days30Writers 2016 Ramadan series. By Kristin Szremski Eventually, I stopped praying. It happened gradually. First, I’d oversleep Fajr, and then I’d be too tired for Ishaa. Then without notice, my prayers nearly ceased. I became confused. I was lost, and I ushered in a spiritual crisis of my own making. Like John Steinbeck’s character Ethan Hawley in “The Winter of our Discontent,” I grew restless and ungrateful. I entered the Year of My Discontent.... Read more
By Omer Zaman This is Day Six of the #30days30Writers 2016 Ramadan series. The author pens this as a tribute to his wife, Sadaf Zaman. I was diagnosed with a form or muscular dystrophy in 2003 when I was 18 years old. Over the years, the muscles in my body have weakened to the extent that I am in need of a wheelchair and have limited range of motion and strength in my upper body. In fear of the progression of... Read more
This is Day Five of the #30Days30Writers 2016 Ramadan series. Dedicated to the people of Iraq. By Ramon Meija A year has come and gone with no liberation in sight. If you can recall, last year my submission for Day 17 of the #30Days30Writers Ramadan series for Altmuslim was replaced by a letter highlighting my struggle with depression. Insha’Allah, God willing (I thought), this will help people understand. “Come to Prayer, Come to Salvation.” I was not raised Muslim. Aside from... Read more
This is Day Four of the #30Days30Writers 2016 Ramadan series. By Saadia Faruqi A week before Ramadan, The questions begin. You know the ones, don’t you? Are you ready? Have you prepared? What will you be eating At suhoor and Iftar? I want to invite All you curious people Into my pantry and freezer I want to shout See how unprepared I am? No frozen kabaab, no stacks of parathas Not even a box of dates, Cuz I’m the only... Read more
By Zeba Khan Bernie Sanders rightly spoke out on the hypocrisy of people like Donald Trump, who praise Muhammad Ali in one breath and disparage his religious brethren in another: “Don’t tell me how much you love Muhammad Ali and yet you’re going to be prejudiced against Muslims in this country,” the senator said. For many American Muslims, we know all too well that growing up Muslim in America often feels like playing one long game of defense against attacks on our... Read more
This is Day Three of the #30Day30Writers 2016 Ramadan series. By Farouk A. Peru To be perfectly honest, as Muslims, we are meant to read the Quran deeply all year long. There is no specific time when we must read, just that we should maintain a close relationship with our holy book by reading and understanding it as much as possible. However, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we find ourselves losing our connection. I remember experiencing this... Read more
This is Day Two of the #30Days30Writers Ramadan 2016 series. By Namira Islam My mother has a reputation for being the life of a party. She is a masterful, vivacious storyteller and sassy in multiple languages. My father was steady, quiet and a bookworm. His brand of humor consisted of dad jokes and teasing. He was witty. But where my mom roasts with her humor, Abbu enjoyed a good quip. Most of my childhood memories are linked to my mother... Read more
This is Day One of the #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2016. By Shibli Zaman In a society that promotes gluttonous consumerism with absolutely no regard for the planet’s inability to support that, the best service you can do to every living species on this earth is to treat food like medicine. You wouldn’t just take any snake oil when you’re sick, and you’re not exactly chugging down cough syrup for its lovely synthetic flavor somehow labeled as “grape.” (I never... Read more
Seems like the past few Ramadans we’ve been hear this same phrase, but apparently it’s true this year: In many places around the world, this Ramadan will have the longest fasts of the year, including fasting on the longest day of the year – June 21. And while much of the Muslim blogosphere is abuzz with “get-ready-for-Ramadan” posts and advice articles, the obvious question we have for you is — are you Ramadan ready? Neither are we, but we’re getting... Read more
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Remembering Muhammad Ali – Boxing Legend, Proud American Muslim
By Altmuslim Editors Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing. ********** The day I met Islam, I found a power within myself that no man could destroy or take... Read more