By Shaahima When it was confirmed that I was to be married and the dates for the event set, family members went into a flurried pseudo-state of panic and anticipation. We have a wedding to plan! The dress! The venue! The guest list! The frenzy that ensued soon began to seep into my psyche, and a few months in I was starting to panic too – but for reasons far from the above-mentioned. For by then I had attended my fair share... Read more
By Safiyyah Surtee Writing about Muharram, the day of Ashura and the events of Karbala from a non-sectarian perspective is not simple, but I believe there can be reconciliation. I grew up in a home where Muharram is a time of celebration, as it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar, as well the hijrah (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) from Makkah to Medina. The 9th/10th/11th Muharram are days for fasting, and in some cases, people even exchange gifts.... Read more
If you have been plugged into the grid in any way these past few days, then you must be aware of the horrible tragedy unfolding in the Philippines right now. On November 8, Typhoon Haiyan, a catastrophic typhoon three times the size of Hurricane Katrina, wreaked havoc in the Philippines. Delivering huge waves and winds of more than 180 miles per hour, this storm is identified as one of the most brutal and strongest storms to ever hit the Earth.... Read more
Interview by Dilshad D. Ali It’s a bird, it’s a plane! It’s … well it’s not Superman, nor does this particular superhero fly. But with the introduction of the latest comic book superhero, Kamala Khan, we’re entering a whole new exciting world. Kamala, who is Marvel Comic’s newest superhero, is part of a growing effort to fill the void of female superhero series while “diversifying its offerings,” as reported by the New York Times. Dubbed Ms. Marvel, Kamala was born... Read more
By Deonna Kelli Sayed A full moon hung low one North Carolina night. Omar ibn Said was on the run from his South Carolina master, who had almost beaten him to death a month earlier. When Omar came upon a church, he whispered “Praise Allah” under his breath. He took ablutions by the well in the churchyard and then entered the sanctuary to perform his Islamic prayers. A young white boy saw him walk inside. Men on horseback with a... Read more
By Zainab Khan Zainab Khan has joined Altmuslim as the site’s newest monthly columnist. Let me be angry. When I ask you to let me be angry, I’m not talking of anger just to be angry. There’s an anger – for the sake of this article, let’s call it rage – that arises from a lack of will, from being unable to control the appetites. (How often is a person angry just to be angry, really?) I’m not talking about... Read more
By Anna Wittman I converted to Islam for many reasons, but the most important of those was the holistic teaching of justice I found pervasive in the Quran and life of Prophet Muhammad. What most people do not expect, however, is that in the two years leading up to my conversion and continuing after, I have become more filled with questions than with answers, and I’ve grown comfortable, even intimate with them. They remind me that I am human and... Read more
By Susan Carland If you want to know what matters most to you, observe what first comes to mind when you wake up. What is that one issue that keeps swirling through your mind day after day – that one matter your thoughts can’t help gravitating around? As I sat outside with a friend in glorious spring weather, squinting against the sun and the tears gathering in my eyes, I knew how true this was. “You are going to keep... Read more
The first nine days of Dhul Hijjah (the ninth month in the Muslim calendar) are upon us, a most blessed time leading up to the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Millions are converging in Makkah and its surrounding areas for the pilgrimage. For other Muslims worldwide, these days are blessed as well, with promises of multiplied rewards for good deeds done during these days. We are encouraged to fast, especially on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah – the day of Arafat. This... Read more
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Islamophobe David Gaubatz ‘Retires,’ But the Lies Remain
By Hesham Hassaballa The infamous Islamophobe David Gaubatz, in announcing his retirement via email to his supporters, admitted what most have suspected: That the majority of anti-Islam groups simply exist to make money. Gaubatz wrote (emphasis added): “There are many good people fighting the fight from within these organizations, but the majority of the 501 nonprofit conservative organizations saying they are engaging Islam in head to head battle, are nothing more than business corporations fighting for the big bucks. I am referring to... Read more