islamicate

Event: Muslims in NYC Public Schools

Details here.

Wed. Apr. 29, 2008

Teachers' College, Columbia University

Just learned almost 10% of the NYC public school system is Muslim

education, New York

Pakistan, Peace, and the Arts

Got an email today about a group in Pakistan that is attempting to bring about peaceful change through the arts. The group is ALAAP, and their peace declaration is an interesting read.

art, Literature, Music, Pakistan, Poetry, peace

Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow on Facebook

I'm a member of the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow network and we've finally got a page on Facebook, so become a fan.

MLT

Muslim Moderation

Chris Dickey talks about "Christian Rage, Muslim Moderation" in a Newsweek column. While the title and lede are somewhat misleading, I think the overall point is one that needs to be hammered over and over again: No religion has a monopoly on extremists, ignorance, or blinders. Dr. Marranci gives a detailed example of the same idea at his blog.

terror[ism][ists], terrorism

McCain: 100 Years in Iraq

In light of a recent post, I thought it was only fair to point out again that McCain loves dead Americans. He wants to stay 100 years in Iraq, but he doesn't want you to know about it .

Iraq, McCain

A Muslim Astrophysicist?

A good friend of mine was (not so) recently awarded a major honor by his university. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving person. Who says science and (Muslim) religion can't mix?

Islamic History Month

The Canadians have declared October "Islamic History Month." I don't know how I feel about this. No other religion gets this treatment, and I don't think they should. I would argue against a similar move here in the US because I think it would further emphasize that Muslims are different. Multiculturalism in Canada is an odd duck, so maybe it makes more sense there.

Other Blogging

I now also blog at Religion Dispatches. Don't worry, islamicate isn't going anywhere.

A Meditation on Ali

From Brian.

Cities of Light: Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain

The documentary is apparently over a year old, but the review and the interview are both worth reading. The comments on the interview are pretty interesting as well.

Only Other People Have "Culture"

The ones who are in power apparently don't have any.

Remembering a Muslim

Posted simply for the reason that it shows Muslims are people too. We make human connections, suffer human losses, and die human deaths.

A heart-moving reflection on a deep personal connection here.

Ben Kingsley born a Muslim, part deux

See previous post for basics.

See this page for more details. He apparently kept his birth name, Bhanji, for several of his children.

Islam and the Earth

The Qur'an says that God is the light of the heavens and the earth. If you believe you see all of creation as being illuminated by a Divine light, than part of the trust that we, as the most noble of creation, have been given is the care and protection of the Earth. This type of thinking is not new to Muslims. We have shaped the world to reflect our belief in Heaven. Gardens are created to mirror the vision of Heaven with water and split into 4 quarters. Mecca, the center of our religious life, is the gateway to Heaven on earth. Below are a few books that deal with these issues.

"Islam and Ecology (World Religions and Ecology Series)" (Fazlun Khalid)

"Mecca and Eden: Ritual, Relics, and Territory in Islam" (Brannon Wheeler)

"Gardens of Paradise: The History and Design of the Great Islamic Gardens" (John Brookes)

Bearded, Praying Man Ejected from Plane

Why do people freak out about bearded men praying?

I wouldn't pray on a plane, but I understand why people do. I was on plan into NY last night and there were a whole bunch of Catholics were praying. So why do only bearded men get singled out?

BTW, I know the issue is one of regulation compliance in this instance, but still, it strikes me as being that if he weren't being overtly non-Christian religious, it wouldn't be the issue it is. And yes, I believe both anti-semitism and islamophobia are the same poison in the well.

Finding a Religious Home

Thurman (happy birthday) has a post on how he found his current church. Having been there, I know how welcoming it is.

I don't know if there is a tradition of mosque moving for Muslims. I know we don't move as freely between Shi'ah and Sunni, or even amongst Shi'ah. However, I get the sense that moving amongst the Sunni schools is more normative in the US simply because most people are not as aware of the madhab as they should be. However, there are mosques where you can definitely made to feel unwelcome (96th and 3rd, ahem).

I wonder what we as American Muslims are willing to do to find a spiritual home? Or do we just drive people away?

Salaam wa Shalom

Via Laila Lalami I found this beautiful poem. Isn't it nice to know what a Muslim really means by "revenge?"

Restoring Cairo, the City

A pedestrian walkway for one of the busiest cities on earth.

[photo] sunset light and the minaret

sunset light and the minaret
Originally uploaded by DarkFrame.

Just a lovely photo. Allahu Akbar.

Graphic Novel on Cairo - also Event

I recently read a new graphic novel called Cairo. I've professed my interest and love of comics previously, so I was really looking forward to this read. I am in love with the art work, it really stole the show. I wish there was more of Cairo the city in there. I felt both the story and the art made the city unremarkable. For a story about Cairo, I wish the city were more of a character. The story itself was engaging, but there were too many subplots, and I'm not sure why Rumi was chosen as a poet to represent Cairo. He was Persian and lived several hundred years after Cairo's hey day. I would think Al-Mu'ayyad, Nasir Khusraw, or Umr al-Farid would have been better picks. However, these are the criticisms of a scholar. As a general reader, I found the book to touch on a lot of points that were food for thought, but at the end of the day, I couldn't be invested in anyone. I do suggest reading it, as it was fun, but it's not high on my list like Persepolis or Maus.

In a related note, Haroon is announcing an event centered around the graphic novel. Check out his post for more details.

Congratulations Rachel

Our friend Rachel of Velveteen Rabbi fame has made it on to Time Magazine's blog index. Mazel tov and mubarak.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Rachel has been a wonderful friend to us virtually and in the real world. She deserves this recognition not only for her insightful output, but also as a great person.
Go vote for her in a good way. And if you read us, but you don't read Rachel, you should start now.

Muslim Woman Ruler

A Muslim woman ruler before the 20th century. It's amazing how much we've regressed.

Shi'ism, Yemen

Muslims and Good Governance

It goes back to the beginning. Why do non-Muslims get this, but Muslims don't?

Imam Ali, Shi'ism, governance

This is not us

I don't think I've posted about this before, but if I have, it bears repeating.

Yeh Hum Naheen is a music video from Pakistan about Muslims denouncing terrorism, it means "this is not us." Video clips below.

terrorism

Quran on Cloth

Quran on Cloth
Originally uploaded by Swamibu.

Click through and read the description. You won't believe that amount of work that went into this.

A Quote from Rushdie

In light of my earlier post:

"But members of the new colony have only one real problem, and that problem is white people. British racism, of course, is not our problem. It's yours. We simply suffer from the effects of your problem."

p. 138

"But it is often argued that those old days, those old ideas are long dead, [racism which resulted in slavery and colonialism] and play no significant parts in the events of contemporary Britain. If only that were true. If only history worked so cleanly, erasing itself as it went forward."

pg. 145

From:

"Imaginary Homelands" (Salman Rushdie)

race, racism, Untitled, Salman Rushdie

Gardens and Afghanistan [Updated][2x]

Does a war-torn country need a garden?

[update]: Sectarian bias is a blight on a rare Afghan good news story

[update]: Afghanistan's fight for it's cultural heritage

Afghanistan

Synagogue in Afghanistan

Amongst all the cultural loss, I'm glad to see that all the focus isn't just on the Muslim community, but on the entirety of the Afghan community. Synagogue restoration in Herat.

Afghanistan

Asma Hasan at Glamour

My friend Asma Hasan is blogging at Glamour Magazine about the presidential election. Do check her out, but as she says, she's a Republican, and I am most assuredly not, so don't be surprised if you read very different things over there. Enjoy!

Karen Armstrong Interview

She talks a lot about religion and politics in this particular piece. I think her history of the Sunni-Shi'ah political divide is a bit off. Arguably the first empires fighting about this were in the 11th century (Fatimids and Abbasids), but I would argue the political division goes back to the time of the Prophet. However, that doesn't mean that they didn't live well together.

Karen Armstrong