Imagine a scenario in which a friend informs you that he believes there are aliens in his closet. You check the closet and find nothing, and you respond, “there are …
Native Americans and Muslims: Shared Experience of Historical Trauma
The first generation of Muslims living in North America, those who immigrated here in the mid-20th century, know a great deal about the impact of colonialism— because they either experienced …
The Lesson Buried in the Sting
Smiling in pleasant anticipation, I entered the tiny hair salon on the bustling street corner in Fez. The sign above the door proclaimed “For women only” in Arabic and French. …
A World Beyond Neoliberalism (part 2)
‘Let Us Not Become the Evil that We Deplore’ Most would agree that we are living in a dangerous moment in our history. Americans watched in real-time as Trump supporters …
A World Beyond Neoliberalism (part 1)
In an article in the journal Frontiers in Political Science, “Moral Collapse and State Failure: A View From the Past,” the authors look at four premodern states that prospered and …
Plight of the Uyghurs: The Muslim World Looks On
Today, it is very easy to criticize nations and their leaders and policies when it comes to their dealings with Muslims. Nevertheless, it appears that this has become difficult for …
Soulmates: Do They Exist in Islam?
If you have ever been invited to a walima, a Muslim wedding, you probably received a fancy invitation with this popular ayah inscribed beautifully across the front: “And We created …
Political Evolution of Muslim Americans: An Historical Perspective
Sustained European contact with Muslims goes back at least to the late 7th and early 8th centuries when in 711 CE, Tarik ibn Ziyad, the Berber-appointed governor of Morocco, led …
After Trump: Exemplifying the True Nature of Islam
When Donald Trump announced his intention to have a “Muslim Ban,” stating that early on as a presidential candidate, many were unsure of its effects and what it meant for …
Finding Tranquility and a Connection with Our Creator Through Nature
A few years ago, my family moved from Southern California to Massachusetts. It was an enormous transition for us; moving from the West coast to the East involved saying goodbye …