MuslimMatters.org Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life

The hijab has been a prominent target; the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Showkat Ali, spoke out against the veil, incredibly stating, “only those who have ugly faces use religion to cover it.” In a number of state educational institutions, headscarves have been banned, including at Rajshahi University’s Social Welfare Department, Chittagong Nursing College, and Kushtia Women’s College. The ruling party has also made moves to secularize the nation’s constitution. Read More »

Many times the word إيمان 'Eman' is casually translated into "faith" without one having a deep understanding of what it implies. This word comes from ء م ن, which literally means "safety, security, and guarantee." Security from our own bad thoughts, from punishment because of our sins, from committing what God has told us to stay away from, from doubt, and from living a purposeless life, etc. Read More »

Islamophobia is stupid: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4   The Messenger of Allāh said, “The believer does not defame, abuse, disparage, nor vilify.” (al-Tirmidhi) So it is official, Islamophobia IS stupid! Well, at least the Associated Press (AP) rejected the term (along with Homophobia ... Read More »

Once, while in class at college, an Arab girl I was sitting next to said quite loudly to another, “Hey, give this paper to the 'abdah” referring to a black girl in the class. I wondered if she was even aware of what she was saying in English. Did she ... Read More »

Reminders of social injustice are like reminders of poverty in the world. Those who still have within them even a grain of goodness become disturbed when confronted with these painful truths. But the true measure of righteousness is what we do about this uncomfortable stirring within. Read More »

Since activism tends to refers to the efforts to promote or to direct social, political, economic or environmental change, Islam most certainly has some take on such matters; and hence has something of great significance to contribute to “activism”. Read More »

The second installment in the Eye on Burma series by Fiza Asar. Read More »

This article was first published with a image taken from the French magazine, which depicted a Muslim and Jewish man with the words “Don't mock us”. We immediately replaced the image, as some believed it to be an example of a depiction of our beloved Prophet Muḥammad . Read More »

MuslimMatters is pleased to announce a new, regular series on the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Burma presented by Fiza Asar, a talented communications professional based in the United Kingdom. She is extremely interested in the “other”-ing of certain peoples by media and the interplay of media with politics, culture and ... Read More »

I used to think that tawakkul was just making dua for good to happen in your life and expecting good to happen with certainty (no matter how uncertain the situation may be). I realize now that tawakkul is also a belief in the Grand Plan of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and that, in the worst times of your life when you think you have been abandoned, when you are tested, tawakkul is to also believe there is good in the test that you are going through…and even that test is a mercy of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Read More »