German Anthem Angers Muslims

By Nader Nasr Hundreds of Muslims have emailed Germany’s soccer club, Schalke 04, over its anthem, which makes references to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The anthem, which also caused small, temporary protests by Muslims in 1997, states in the third verse “Muhammad was a prophet who understood nothing about football [soccer]. But of all the…

Dimensions of Serenity

By Narges Moaddel   faculty.maxwell.syr.edu Many of us have heard the word Hajj and know that it is the fifth pillar of Islam. Ask people what kind of experience it is and you”ll hear a wide variety of responses such as spiritual, beautiful, difficult, crowded, etc. What does Hajj mean? Hajj literally means “to set…

A Date for all Ages

by Nader Nasr Narrated by Ibn “Umar: The Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said, “Amongst the trees, there is a tree, the leaves of which do not fall and is like a Muslim. Tell me the name of that tree.” Everybody started thinking about the trees of the desert areas. And I thought…