Thanks Steve Jobs from an Autism Mom

October 6, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

Descriptors like “visionary,” “game-changer” and “innovative” are commonplace in all the tributes being written and posted about Apple guru Steve Jobs. For me personally, the word I choose to describe Steve Job’s life’s work, in relation to me and my family, is possibility. Glorious, wondrous, hopeful possibility. My eldest son is not only autistic, he’s nonverbal, and he had little interest in anything. He is not into any videos, video games, TV shows, or any particular activity outside of twirling... Read more

A Prayer for Nose Blowing

October 4, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

I pray for a lot of significant and insignificant things at all times of the day. I have a standard group of things I ask for when I finish one of my five daily salats — let my children grow to be good Muslims and good humans, help Lil D (my eldest) to manage his autism, give Lil D peace and happiness, ease his suffering, help him find a way to communicate, make him independent, help Dr. M – my husband... Read more

The Trouble with Anwar al-Awlaki’s Death

September 30, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

I start with this: Innal illahi wa innal illayhi raji’un – to Allah we belong, and to Him is our eventual Return. I say this because Shaykh Anwar al-Awlaki, who was reportedly killed today in Yemen, was a self-described Muslim. The reported death of al-Awlaki has put American Muslims in some unchartered territory – whereas when Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was finally killed last spring, there was almost universal relief at his death, but with al-Awlaki, the feelings... Read more

Three Questions for American Muslims: Asma T. Uddin

September 28, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

The Muslim Portal at Patheos is hosting the “Three Questions” project for the month of September in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11. We are asking American Muslims from across the nation three simple but important questions. Click here to learn more about the project. Asma T. Uddin, founder and editor-in-chief of Atlmuslimah, legal fellow with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) and an international law attorney with The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, offers her answers... Read more

Justice Perverted for the Irvine 11

September 23, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

So what is free speech, really? Is it the right to burn the American flag? The right to sponsor a campaign to “Draw the Prophet Muhammad,” which offends a sizeable faction of the American population? The right to say what you want, when you want? The right to wear a black armband on your arm in protest of war? The right to use speech that others may deem hateful? The right to protest? The right to insult? The right to... Read more

Three Questions for American Muslims: Sheila Musaji

September 16, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

The Muslim Portal at Patheos is hosting the “Three Questions” project for the month of September in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11. We are asking American Muslims from across the nation three simple but important questions. Click here to learn more about the project. Sheila Musaji, founder and director of The Amerian Muslim, offers her answers to the three questions: 1. What is the most pressing issue or concern for you as a Muslim in America today, 10... Read more

Dealing with Departure

September 14, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

These past few weeks have been all about gearing up for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11, which for me as the managing editor of the Muslim content at Patheos – was a frenzy of getting coverage together and reaching out to American Muslims for their thoughts with our “Three Questions” project. But life on the home front marches on inexorably, and I’ve been dealing with back to school and the departure of my in-laws, who just left... Read more

Three Questions for American Muslims: Rabiah Ahmed

September 12, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

The Muslim Portal at Patheos is hosting the “Three Questions” project for the month of September in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11. We are asking American Muslims from across the nation three simple but important questions. Click here to learn more about the project. Rabiah Ahmed, director of Mirza PR and a board member of the My Faith My Voice project, offers her answers to the three questions: 1. What is the most pressing issue or concern for you... Read more

Three Questions for American Muslims: G. Willow Wilson

September 12, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

The Muslim Portal at Patheos is hosting the “Three Questions” project for the month of September in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11. We are asking American Muslims from across the nation three simple but important questions. Click here to learn more about the project. G. Willow Wilson, an award-winning author, essayist, writer of comic books and author of the memoir, The Butterfly Mosque, offers her answers to the three questions: 1. What is the most pressing issue or... Read more

Three Questions for American Muslims: Kulsum Abdullah

September 11, 2011 By Dilshad Ali

The Muslim Portal at Patheos is hosting the “Three Questions” project for the month of September in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11. We are asking American Muslims from across the nation three simple but important questions. Click here to learn more about the project. Kulsum Abdullah, an Olympic weightlifter and Pakistan-American computer engineer who recently won the right to wear her hijab and full-coverage clothing in weightlifting competitions, offers her answers to the three questions: 1. What is... Read more