In Photos: Muslim Students Celebrate Eid
As Eid al-Adha fell on a Sunday this year, many students spent time with family and friends to celebrate this blessed religious holiday. Eid mubarak readers!
Reflections from the Muslim-Buddhist Mixer
I had initially visualized the Mixer as some type of Dharmacakra emitting moonlight, and was looking forward to attending in order to speak about my own faith while learning more about another. However, I had made a near-fatal error…
Criticisms on How We React to a Tyrant’s Death
On October 20th a dictator, a tyrant, an oppressor was defeated, captured, and killed. His death is not a shock to most of the world, it was inevitable–just as it is for us all. However, the presumed manner of his death, along with the supposed occurrences after his death, cast a sliver of disappointment among some…
Part 3, Ramadan: Casablanca, Morocco
If only I was equipped with a telescope so I could determine the first night of Ramadan myself, because time was passing by and it was the first of August, but no Moroccans seemed to be buzzing about with the spirit of the holy month.
How to NOT host extravagant Ramadan feasts
As a member of the South Asian community, I have attended numerous iftars that seem more like parties than iftar gatherings. If you’re a Muslim you’re probably thinking, “Iftar ‘parties’ and ‘gatherings’ are the same thing, dummy!” Sadly, our community has failed to distinguish between the kind of parties we host during most of the…
Success: A Test of Gratitude and Humility
Try to recall the last time you achieved something big, commendable, note-worthy. Straight A’s? A promotion? Election into a high position? Admission into a competitive university? Most of us have experienced the sweetness of success. Some of us view it as a blessing. Fewer of us recognize the Source of it and remember to thank…
HOW TO stay physically fit in Ramadan
The month of Ramadan can often become an excuse to not exercise and to overindulge in food. But this month is not meant to be used as a crutch for laziness or a reason to eat whatever we want. We forget that keeping our bodies healthy can be an act of worship and in turn,…
The iPhone Effect: Overfeeding our Nafs
The month of Ramadan we have just entered is a time when we purify ourselves from our physical and worldly desires. While we curb our temptations in this month to detach ourselves from this dunya, this consumer society we live in, conversely, encourages indulging in the desires of our nafs, our ego. It’s really unfortunate…
(Da’wah Series) Part 2: A Life Long Journey
In part one, we learned about what Da’wah is and the importance and urgency to give Da’wah. We also learned it is especially pertinent to give Da’wah in our generation today where Islam is morbidly misunderstood. Interestingly, due to this misrepresentation and misunderstanding, there are those with whom curiosity lingers in their hearts. The hearts…
(Da’wah Series) Part I: What is Da’wah?
What is da’wah? The word da’wah is an Arabic word that literally means “invite (to something)”. Even though this word or derivatives of this word can be used broadly, in Islam it is commonly used when Muslims extend a direct invitation to non-Muslims to accept and believe in the message of Islam by declaring that…