Two Imams headed to a conference on Islamophobia in Charlotte, North Carolina were taken off of their flight just as the airplane was taxiing away from the gate. The Imams were asked to return to the boarding gate because the Delta Airlines pilot refused to fly with them on board. The Imams had been screened twice by the TSA, but were refused re-entry on the plane at the discretion of the pilot who said that passengers had felt uncomfortable with [...]
Continue Reading →
All over the United States Muslims are becoming more engaged in the American political process. Many have begun to run for elected offices and many are winning too. Such Muslims include a New Jersey mayor, state representatives in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Iowa, Maryland and Missouri as well as congressmen in Minnesota and Indiana. Chicago’s Project Mobilize, a non-profit organization aimed at “developing the political potential of the Muslim community in Chicago’s southwest suburbs,” is also working to prepare Muslims [...]
Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving is seen as a very controversial holiday in light of the later massacre of the Native Americans, with whom the pilgrims had originally shared this feast with. Nonetheless, as Muslim Americans we can look back at our own history and be content with the peaceful pre-Columbian relationship we shared with the Native Americans. Muslims in the “New World”: Dr. Barry Fell’s work, “Saga America”, provides evidence of Muslim presence in the Americas as they traded and exchanged knowledge and [...]
Continue Reading →
While sitting on the steps I look down on the grass and I see an ant struggling- it was carrying another dead ant. That ant could have been her sister, but how often do we look at ants in such a manner? But of course, shouldn’t we have the same care for all of Allah’s creations like we do for humans? Allah (swt) reminds us in the Qur’an: And there is not a creature in the Earth, nor a bird [...]
Continue Reading →
It is a Saturday evening and your racing endorphins put you on the edge as you prepare to attend your first ever Qiyam-Al-Layl, a Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions to stand up in worship all night long. You napped during the day just to get the energy to stay awake during this night. You are excited and pumped up for what was promised to you in those emails. But what they didn’t advertise [...]
Continue Reading →
My father happily walks into my room handing me a mug of tea, hoping it would make me smile. As I take a whiff, I smell the aroma that teases me from a distance on my desk. Just like the smell of pie teases passerby’s from the kitchen windowsill in Saturday morning cartoons. The aroma suggests that it may be chamomile, and maybe with a hint of lemon. Tea: it can be inspiring, yet it still isn’t popular with most [...]
Continue Reading →
The grave news from Pakistan emerged last week with the devastating flooding. The death toll has now reached over 1,500. There are shortages of food, water, clothing, shelter, and supplies and, yet, the water continues to rise in the region. In Punjab, 15,000 homes have already been destroyed, leaving what is to be called “a mass exodus of people”. These are 15,000 families who no longer will have shelter for the month of Ramadan. This year they will be forced [...]
Continue Reading →
Taking a short walk outside this hot, sunny day in Riverside, California exposed to me to one of Allah’s miracles. In my backyard, perched in the tiny space of one of the lamppost’s corners was a tiny nest. Resting on that nest was a mother hummingbird, gracefully feeding her young. As I approached it out of curiosity, the mother fluttered away out of fear. As I observed her newborn with joy, panic filled the mother’s body. She began chirping loudly [...]
Continue Reading →
What is the purpose of life on earth according to the Qur’an? Why did God create us? “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Qur'an, 51:56] What is the significance of this verse? In this verse, our Creator is telling us the purpose behind our creation. We were created only so that we may worship God. Our worship can be in many ways. It can be through prayer, supplication, sleep, the act of eating, [...]
Continue Reading →
Oh Allah, how wonderful is Your creation Every day I see it’s majestic foundation And I try very hard to understand its wisdom To be able to comprehend the very power of the prism Through these miracles do I see Your signs Blatant as is a diamond in the mines Yet, such wisdom only comes through education So please grant us knowledge for the nation We promise to put the teachings to action So please allow us to show our [...]
Continue Reading →
