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

Princeton University professor and political philosopher Robert P. George has recently become a target of controversy, accused by some of being anti-Muslim. The critics have cited only the report Fear Inc. : The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America by Wajahat Ali which draws attention to the role of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation in making grants to some vehement (and, in my view, misguided) critics of Islam and of leading Muslim organizations. George serves as one of eleven members on the Board of the Bradley Foundation. Read More »

From the woman quietly praying in a church, to the missionaries helping in a developing country, to the televangelist screaming about terrorists on television- a picture of modern Christianity is anything but uniform. Compare that to the muezzin performing the call to prayer, the children playing in the refugee camp, and the young extremist studying in a madrasa and an equally diverse group of people is seen among the followers of Islam. It is evident that over the many centuries since Ashama might have drawn that line in the sand, the gap between Muslims and Christians has grown quite a bit larger. Read More »

Pamela Geller, anti-Muslim blogger extraordinaire, sounded the alarm today over the latest “Islamization of America” outrage.  She discovered that Butterball whole turkeys are certified halal, and in this she sees the latest example of “stealth” infiltration of Islam into all things American (read: non-Muslim). This Thanksgiving, she frets, the jihad ... Read More »

By: Hafiz Sohaib Baig Transcript: بسـم الله الرحمن الرحيم   I will first start with a verse from the Qurʾān, which I will recite in Arabic and then read the English translation.   “Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” ... Read More »

Half of this story is truth and half of this has not yet happened.  Let me tell you the true part first. When the doorbell rang a few weeks ago I sent my 3-year-old daughter and autistic 5-year-old son running after their father to open it.  We were expecting their ... Read More »

Shirt tucked, hijab secured – I swing my legs up onto the playground bar and quiver into balance. Awkwardly perched on the peak, I look down before I let myself fall backwards. I circle around the bar. I feel my stomach swoop into my throat. One, two spins around. At the third I slip and fall to the ground, my face burning red with confusion. Am I really ready? Read More »

She must have been glowing and happy when she boarded that American Flight 11; she was going to attend a friend’s wedding in Los Angeles. Rahma would not have wanted to be remembered as a victim; she was a positive, powerful woman. She used her talents to make her adopted country a better place to live. Her friends still miss her and mourn her, and many gathered together last weekend at the college campus where Rahma spent 4 years of her life. The lesson I learned from 9/11: never take a day for granted, for life is very fragile and very short. Read More »

By  Lee Weismann exclusive to MuslimMatters. Lee is a high school teacher in Irvine CA. He tweets inspirational words and reflections at JihadiJew and blogs here under the same interesting handle “JihadiJew”. His thoughts on Ramadan were amazing, make sure to read them. I was asked to write a “Jewish-American” response ... Read More »

You forget you are in the US when you enter the urine-drenched, graffiti covered streets of the homeless capital of the world... Sister Taswiyah Mutazz is the director of food programs for ILM. "A lot of us are a paycheck away from being on the other side of that line;" tears in her compassionate eyes, she recounts countless stories of challenges women and children face on these streets. This was the first year, I heard so many reports of homeless Muslims, men and women, too ashamed to walk into a masjid, without access to a place where their faith can help them recover. Read More »

Link to all Ramadan 2010 posts   This year Ramadan coincides with back to school for many families. Realizing that many of our Muslim brothers and sisters do choose the public school system for their kids\' education, this is a resource to help make the best out of Ramadan in ... Read More »