By Aziz Poonawalla This is Day 28 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. In just a few days, it’s over. We get to eat lunch again, we have the energy to tackle the “to-do” lists that have been piling up, we can reclaim our evenings and watch TV and start putting music back on rotation in our commute. We survived another Ramadan! Really though, if that’s all Ramadan is, what was the point? Rather than seeing Ramadan as a... Read more
This is Day 28 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Abdullah bin Hamid Ali The Islamic historical and exegetical literature inform us that Ramadan gets its name from the fact that the very first Ramadan occurred during an intensely hot season. In the word “Ramadan” is “Ramda,” which means “severe heat” or the “sunbaked ground.” Though it would be nearly impossible to ascertain with which particular month of the Gregorian calendar the first Ramadan coincided (since this was... Read more
This is Day 27 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Zainab Chaudary “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” — President John F. Kennedy, Jr. (Address at Rice University, September 12 1962) My first memory of a mosque is of a forest: I am four years old, playing hide-and-seek with the others kids in the maze of rooms where Sunday... Read more
This is Day 26 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By AbdelRahman Murphy Pizza and basketball. Those were the solutions for my generation’s struggles of being a Muslim adolescent. Deeper questions about existence and identity were either ignored or vaguely answered. Needless to say, times have changed. As I begin my 10th year serving community in a working capacity, I’ve come across three common hurdles that stand as obstacles between young Muslims and their being at peace with their... Read more
This is Day 25 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Qasim Rashid Last year I discussed how Ramadan serves as yet another example of Prophet Muhammad’s truthfulness, by discussing his prophecy about Imam Mahdi and Messiah and its perfect fulfillment in Ramadan. This year I share Prophet Muhammad’s prophecy regarding true Islamic leadership, i.e. Khilafat. ISIS terrorists claim their leader Abu Bakr al-Bhagdadi is a caliph. I hoped Muslim leaders worldwide would condemn this so-called caliph by referring... Read more
This is Day 24 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. Trigger warning: This essay discusses sexual abuse and the assault of women, men and children, the abuse of power by religious figures and institutions and also discusses of victim-shaming. By Jenan Mohajir A few months ago, I found myself in a situation where I had to make a choice. It was one of those moments when as you walk down a difficult but transformative path, you stop and think to... Read more
This is Day 23 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Dawud Walid I recently gave a sermon entitled “Ramadan: Month of Sincerity.” The sermon was based upon the sacred narration in which the Almighty said, “Every action of a child of Adam is for him [or her] except fasting, for surely it is for Me; and I am the one gives reward for it.” The takeaway points from the sermon were: 1) The sacred tradition about fasting only... Read more
This is Day 22 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Key Ballah This Ramadan has been an eye opener for me. It is becoming so apparent to me how important it is to have at least one person in your corner during this blessed month. The past four Ramadans I’ve spent surrounded by non-Muslims, and as a product I was often left full of guilt and regret. It is true that we are the gate keepers to our own... Read more
This is Day 21 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Zaki Hasan It was the evening of June 17. The new moon was upon us, bringing in Ramadan right along with it. It was here. Go time. And no, I don’t mean Taraweeh prayer (although that happened too). Rather, I mean what happened later that night, after everyone else in the house had fallen fast asleep. Unbeknownst to me or our kids, my wife swung into action like... Read more
This is Day 20 of Altmuslim’s #30Days30Writers series for Ramadan 2015. By Anonymous What was the last thing you said to someone you love? The worst thing you ever told another human being? What do you wish you could say that you never have? I’ve always struggled to connect with people who come from more innocent backgrounds than I did. I have no idea how to sympathize with those who have no concept of family or romantic relationships built on... Read more
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