By Dr. Muqtedar Khan “Indeed, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation (Qu’ran 33:56).” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is deeply revered in the Islamic tradition. Every time Muslims mention his name and every time they offer prayers, they seek blessings for him. For Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad’s actions, words and silences all tantamount to divine law. No human has ever... Read more
Brace yourself for some good change: altmuslim is joining the Patheos family. Before Illume, before Islamicity added news and essays to its site, before Beliefnet and later Patheos and Huffington Post Religion created robust Islam sections and/or expanded their coverage of Muslims, there was altmuslim, the cutting-edge website created by Halalfire founder Shahed Amanullah. The website was developed to be “an introspective voice that helps promote a critical (and self-critical) analysis of issues regarding the Muslim world.” In its 11... Read more
My youngest daughter is sick with cold (say it together now: awwwwwwww), and thus we did not send her to her Islamic school today. My older daughter, however, is off today for the Martin Luther King holiday, because she attends public school. The discrepancy irks me deeply. Me? No such luck. No day off today. My banker did, as did my letter carrier. I, however, did not. In fact, I don’t think I remember clearly when the last time I... Read more
The only solid forecast for this new year is the continued infatuation for the mob to overthrow and overcome. But if 2011 has been the year of getting people in one place, 2012 may well be a test of keeping them there. Read more
Continuing our ten-year-old tradition, we take a look back at the news stories of 2011 and pick out the ones that give us reason to reflect, to hope, and to believe in better days ahead. Read more
I give up food and water for a month every Ramadan, while they get stockings and presents and fancy trees - even the ones who are decidedly more naughty than nice? Where is the justice? Read more
There has always been small, yet vocal minorities who have attempted to fear-monger against a perceived outsider group. This has shifted at one point or another from Catholics, to African-Americans, to Jews, to Asians. The focus is now squarely upon Muslims. Read more
While public policy may reflect the values of the citizenry, it should not be promulgated in the name of any one religion. Even when religious values inform a certain policy, the primary reason for enacting public policy must be secular. Read more
Deep inside, I wish to see young boys and girls embracing the beautiful Prophetic tradition of greeting others with compassion and affection. And the onus to teach this is on parents. Read more
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The NYPD, ‘The Third Jihad’ and a Breakdown of Trust
By Cyrus McGoldrick, Civil Rights Manager at the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Almost twice a week, I stand in front of a different audience — students, worshippers, activists, community leaders — and facilitate what we at CAIR-New York call a “Know Your Rights” workshop. The workshops are meant to instill in American Muslim communities an understanding of our American constitutional rights and how to defend them when police officers or federal agents show up to... Read more