islam doesn't speak, muslims do | "the ink of the scholar is worth more than the blood of the martyr" – Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Shariah at the Kumback Café – NYTimes.com. Shariah is the new hot-button wedge issue, as radicalizing as abortion or gay marriage, seized on by Republicans to mobilize conservative Americans against the supposed “stealth jihad” of Muslims in the United States and against a Democratic president portrayed as oblivious to — or complicit with — the threat. Not since 9/11 has Islamophobia been at such a pitch in the United States.
Islamic Innovation Celebrated in Queens Exhibition – NYTimes.com. There lies the heart of the problem. An awfully long time has passed since anyone thought of the Muslim world in general, let alone the Arab world in particular, as an incubator of great ideas in science or technology. Not to be flippant, but radicals’ devising ways to equip suicide bombers doesn’t cut it. The fact, however, is that some of history’s finest scientists and scholars once emerged from predominantly Muslim societies, extending from Spain to China across a long stretch of time that began in the seventh century.
Islamic Networks Group. Have you ever blanked on the Hebrew word for charity? Are you planning a luncheon and need to know when Ramadan ends so you can feed your Muslim guests? Did you ever want to wish your neighbor happy holiday, but weren’t sure when it is or what to say?
Tension grows between Calif. Muslims, FBI after informant infiltrates mosque. In the Irvine case, Monteilh’s mission as an informant backfired. Muslims were so alarmed by his talk of violent jihad that they obtained a restraining order against him.
Unveiling the truth: Muslim life on campus – The Hofstra Chronicle – @Hofstra. “For being one of the most religious nations in the world we don’t have a good vocabulary to talk about religion. There should be education on religion not about Islam per se, but about religion in general starting on a secondary level,” said Rashid, “It’s not just about getting people interested in learning about other cultures and religions, it’s about people getting curious again. People need to get excited about learning again.”
Congrats to Milia. A friend from our Harvard days. USA Characters Unite. While at Harvard she gained the essential knowledge needed to understand and work with members of diverse ethnic, cultural, social, economic, racial and religious communities. Aside from academics, she initiated activities that were both educational and relevant to the times with the goal of serving individuals espousing various faith traditions.
I really like these guys musically. I think it’s a riot they have taken a Bollywood reworking of a devotional song and turned it back into an devotional. The video is a bit campy, but fun. I’d love to see a Fez Meghani and Aashiq al-Rasul collaboration. > Music
Kim Joseph: Unveiling My Surrender. Throughout the day I was feeling a growing need to reach up and rip off my hijab. Just like that. Take it off and continue with my day. This was not a new thought but an uprising personal realization that had been on my mind for weeks. Because of this, I began wearing my hijab wrapped up and tied in various fashions at the nape of my neck. This simple change felt amazing, and I hadn’t even realized I felt un-amazing. I was standing at the innermost part of the aisle, as alone as I…
Via the BBC, Hans Rosling examines the correlation between income growth and life expectancy in 200 countries over the last 200 hundred years in an amazing animation. Take a look: [From 200 Years In 4 Minutes]
Given by a female writer friend to a male friend, both of whom wish to remain anonymous: A little lingering eye contact (ended when you carefully look away, as though remembering that you are in fact a dutiful Muslim brother even though you contain deep uncharted oceans of complexity and longing, a fact of which she will be thoroughly appraised by said lingering eye contact) should do it. humor, humor