The Muslims Are Innovating!

News and views on all-things Muslim for March 23-26, 2015.

Collecting news for this blog post was a lot easier than usual. I figured out the reason why: there seems to be less depressing news. I’m not sure if this is because I chose not to focus on them- positive energy ftw. This week’s news was interesting with lots of Ayaan Hirsi Ali (she does have books to sell) to the list of the top 50 Most Innovative Global Muslim Startups of 2015.

Articles About Muslims 

This article shows why standing up against the wrong is so important: I used to dislike the niqab. Harper showed me how wrong I was  

The last few days have been difficult, especially with news from Yemen. According to Al-Jazeera, Yemen crisis talks to be held in Doha, says UN. Envoy announces fresh to resolve crisis after appeal by Yemeni foreign minister to Gulf states for military help. Something to keep an eye and ear on.

Heartbreaking. Omar Khadr seeks bail while his case is appealed in U.S. Former Guantanamo prisoner seeks to be freed after nearly 13 years in custody.  

I feel like I have talked about Bibi in all of my posts. I hope this is the last time, but I had to share this: Israeli PM regrets offending Arab-Israelis during poll. Yeah, right.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed on a preliminary deal on a controversial dam project that Cairo feared would reduce its share of vital waters from the Nile river. Fingers crossed.

And just as I published this, I learned that Saudi Arabia starts bombing Yemen.  All I can say at this point is that may Allah help the oppressed and guide us all.

Articles By Muslims

The 50 Most Innovative Global Muslim Startups 2015 is a list created by Ummah Wide that highlights part of the global Muslim Market that they are most excited about. P.S.- MuslimARC made the list (image from MuslimARC.org).

If you have ever been part of the MSA, The 12 MSA Archetypes will have you reminiscing and cringing. Great list, although I am sure we can all add our own Archetypes to the list.

With recent Islamophobia, I have been thinking a lot about this: Is Living with Islamophobia the New Normal for Muslims? Arzu Kaya-Uranli digs deeper into this question and it is worth a read.    

Feel Good Stories

Get your tissues out. Disabled teacher in Gaza inspires his students to never give up. “A young teacher who lost three limbs in an Israeli missile strike leads by example, showing his young students how to overcome adversity”

Adnan Syed’s lawyers file first document to challenge murder conviction. Brief followed doubts raised by Serial podcast, charging Syed’s former attorney with neglecting to ask for plea bargain and ignoring possible alibi in 2000 trials. Good luck, Adnan!

Videos to Watch

So many great videos to watch this time! Does Islam Have a Violent Extremism Problem? In this video, “Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Manal Omar square off over Hirsi Ali’s new book ‘Heretic.’”

Another Ayaan Hirsi Ali video- this time on Jon Stewart. Jon Stewart is so fun to watch especially when he questions her logic on Exclusive – Ayaan Hirsi Ali Extended Interview Pt. 1 (make sure to watch both parts!)

 How Millennial Muslims Are Reshaping Their Faith on HuffPost Live What are the challenges faced by young Muslims trying to navigate a life in accordance to Islam, while still fitting in with the culture around them?  Guests include: Millennial Muslims Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Editor-In-Chief of MuslimGirl.net; Usra Ghazi, student at Harvard University; Thana El-Naggar, author of “Practicing Islam in Short Shorts’; and Ruba Shaath, an intern at HuffPost Live.

Another video, this one hilarious:

Sabina Khan-Ibarra is a freelance writer and editor. She regularly contributes to her blog, Ibrahim’s Tree which she created after the loss of her infant son in 2011. She created Muslimah Montage as a platform for women to share their stories. Sabina currently lives in Davis, CA and working on her memoir. Follow Sabina on Twitter: @muslimahmontage