The Muslim Monad - Explorations in Identity, Philosophy and modern day culture

Long Live Love

February 14, 2019 By Inas Younis

The first rule of love is; Marriage is no real excuse for not loving. Rule number two; He who is not jealous cannot love. And lastly; When made public, love rarely endures. Translation: Love your spouse, be jealous, don’t tell anyone. Those were the “love rules” according to 12th century author of The Art of Courtly Love, Andreas Capellanus. In the 12th century, people were far more secretive about romantic love and for good reason. Love of the flesh was… Read more

American Mosques; Third, Fourth and Fifth Spaces

February 12, 2019 By Inas Younis

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State sponsored mosques are designed to serve a singular purpose; to provide a space for congregational religious services and prayers. In Muslim majority countries, mosques do not operate independently of political authority. The utility of the mosque is then limited, if not profoundly curtailed, within this context. But in the United States, the mosque is not just a place to pray but also doubles as a community center. American mosques are the nerve center of the Muslim community with… Read more

Islam and the Origins of Capitalism

September 17, 2018 By Inas Younis

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I am writing this on my MacBook Air made by Apple, using software made by Microsoft, drinking coffee brewed by Starbucks all while contemplating how capitalism has afforded me the time and energy to write about capitalism. How profits have given us the luxury to condemn the profit motive. And how modern innovation has given us the audacity to condemn modernity. From the plastic cup to the flushing toilet, one must know the difference between biting the hand that feeds… Read more

The Crisis of Faith

August 31, 2018 By Inas Younis

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Some of the world’s greatest religious and spiritual leaders have endured a crisis of faith at some point in their lives. It is not uncommon for religious people to go through periods of doubt and experience an emptiness so profound that nothing they do can induce the emotions of reverence and awe that they once enjoyed effortlessly. This state of ambivalence and confusion can last as long as a few years to a few decades. And it often expands into… Read more

The Crusade Against Truth

August 24, 2018 By Inas Younis

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CNN released a powerful new ‘Facts First’ ad Campaign series featuring an onscreen image of an apple with a voiceover narrating the following words: This is an apple. Some people might try to tell you that it’s a banana. They might scream, ‘Banana, banana, banana’ over and over again. They might put banana in all caps. You might even start to believe it’s a banana, but it’s not. This is an apple. It’s a befitting media campaign for our… Read more

Tragedy and Hope

July 29, 2018 By Inas Younis

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“The Mending Wall,” a poem published during World War I by American poet Robert Frost, narrates the story of a farmer who contacts his neighbor to help him rebuild the stone wall between their two farms. When the farmer questions the purpose of the wall, the neighbor replies, “good fences make good neighbors.” This celebrated proverb along with its corresponding cultural symbol of a white picket fence has evolved to encapsulate what we now famously refer to as the American… Read more

Five Strategies for Living More Meaningfully

July 1, 2018 By Inas Younis

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I have a philosophical prejudice against motivational speakers, life coaches, gurus, and basically anyone who makes their living advising others on how to live. These days we are led to believe that we can buy almost anything, even spiritual guidance. But unfortunately, you cannot commodify enlightenment. Secular remedies are not sacraments, and life coaches are no substitute for real relationships. Image crafting and self-branding have become a cultural pastime, leading to the emergence of a new pop psychology… Read more