Reflections from My Hajj – Activists, Advocates, Quietists

Last updated on: December 5, 2012 at 5:49 pm By Guest Contributor

By Davi Barker Davi Barker, who writes at The Muslim Agorist and for other publications, recently returned from his Hajj pilgrimage. Altmuslim will be featuring a few of his reflections this week, as Barker settles back into his post-Hajj life. I recently returned home from Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and I’ve been thinking a lot about a Prophetic saying that is very common and well know among those pursuing social or political change. It is reported that Prophet Muhammad... Read more

How Do We Take Malala’s Dream and Make it a Reality?

Last updated on: November 30, 2012 at 3:41 pm By Guest Contributor

By Rushdi Siddiqui “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” — Mahatma Gandhi. When the first lady of a Muslim country talks about education for girls, it’s not only expected, but, many believe there is an agenda behind it. When an education minister talks about education for girls, there is a collective yawn, as subsequent important questions on language (English?), budget (decreasing?), etc., are the details rarely discussed at photo-ops. When... Read more

The Truth About American Muslims is …

Last updated on: November 28, 2012 at 5:42 pm By Guest Contributor

By Jillian Holzbauer Read any article that even mentions the word Islam, and one is bound to see a scathing comment or two painting every Muslim in the world with the same brush of extremism. Usually these caps-lock riddled comments feature statements beginning, “The TRUTH is…” as though there exists a singular, absolute truth about Muslims. As the wave of discrimination against the American Muslim community continues to rise, so does the dehumanizing mindset that Muslims are not individuals but... Read more

Election 2012 – American Muslims Gain Political Empowerment

Last updated on: November 15, 2012 at 10:02 pm By Guest Contributor

Election 2012 – American Muslims VOTE! By Zeba Iqbal There were so many wins on election night. President Barack Obama was re-elected; Nate Silver’s statistical model and basic arithmetic trumped punditry; and women and communities of color swung the election. And, American Muslims — not particularly courted by any political party — came together to get the vote out, make their voices heard and help sway local elections of anti-Muslim candidates as well as the presidential election. The nation’s first... Read more

Comedian-Writer Aman Ali Reflects on His Hajj Journey

Last updated on: November 5, 2012 at 7:20 pm By Guest Contributor

Comedian/writer and co-founder of the “30 Mosques in 30 Days” project Aman Ali just completed his Hajj pilgrimage with his mother. He posted the following poignant thoughts as a Facebook status update, which we are sharing here with his permission. This is what the Hajj is all about. By Aman Ali I’m back from Hajj. To say it was a moving experience is probably the biggest understatement I have made in my entire life. I didn’t know what peace was... Read more

Is it Better to Vote Based on a Candidate’s Policies or His/Her Faith?

Last updated on: November 5, 2012 at 6:37 pm By Guest Contributor

Election 2012 – American Muslims VOTE! By Hesham Hassaballa Faith is a very important aspect of our lives. And, it is not unreasonable to expect that candidates for public office will also hold their faith as an important part of their lives. President Barack Obama, a Christian, and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a Mormon, express strong love and respect for their faiths. Many candidates throughout history have said that their faith guides their decision-making as well as their philosophy... Read more

How Far is America from Electing a Muslim President?

Last updated on: November 2, 2012 at 4:17 pm By Guest Contributor

Election 2012 – American Muslims VOTE! By Daniel Tutt How far away is American from Electing a Muslim president? Closer than you might think As someone deeply engaged in combatting Islamophobia, one of the highlights of the 2008 Presidential election was when General Colin Powell denounced the myth that President Obama is Muslim on Meet the Press. General Powell, a senior statesman respected across partisan lines managed to clear a decade of post 9/11 Islamophobia in a single sentence: “So... Read more

Why I’m Voting Green

Last updated on: October 31, 2012 at 5:42 pm By Guest Contributor

Election 2012 – American Muslims VOTE! By Obaid H. Siddiqui Humanitarianism and civil rights are being mocked right before our eyes. Even more disturbing, most Americans don’t even care. This is evident in the chorus of President Barack Obama supporters, who acknowledges the failures of our Dear Leader while insisting that he is better than his opponent, Mitt Romney. Romney will not make us safer, nor will he defend the essential rights guaranteed to us through the Constitution. You may... Read more

Muslims Must Look Beyond Themselves and Engage Politically

Last updated on: October 29, 2012 at 8:31 pm By Guest Contributor

By Khalid Latif My wife and I were on our way into Bed, Bath and Beyond in late August when I decided to check my office voicemail from my cell phone. I told her I’d meet her inside. When I did, she asked whether I had any messages. “Just one,” I told her. “I was asked to deliver an invocation at this year’s Republican National Convention.” She responded with a smile on her face, “Of course you were,” and then... Read more

Beyond the Hajj – Figuring Out the “Reborn” You

Last updated on: October 29, 2012 at 6:35 pm By Guest Contributor

By Rushdi Siddiqui The Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is the last of the five obligatory pillars for Muslims. It is a human-defining, behaviour-refining and life-revitalizing moment that is supposed to endure until our last breath. It is an explicit acknowledgement of the historical link to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and those prophets before him, including Prophet Abraham. It is a character-building pillar that changes our outlook: From whom we are to what we represent and, finally, how we... Read more