Teaching Islamic Studies - post-9/11



We are living in a world of nearly instantaneous communication. Visual and oral media reports are crossing linguistic and cultural boundaries with a speed and impact that written texts cannot. Our public and political conversations increasingly use a variety of abbreviated and formulaic means of communication that only hint at complex social, economic, and political issues worldwide. As we veer from one crisis to another with the Muslim world, there are a number of topics one needs familiarity with in order to make sense of events.

Blessings, Joy and Loneliness: Ramadan in America



The joys with which we humans are blessed are ever so sweeter in Ramadan. Yet for all-too-many people, Ramadan is distinguished for being a time when some Muslims remember their obligation to care for the hungry and destitute, only to fall back to selfishness, greed and self-righteousness the remainder of the year.

Pope’s Speech: Slander Cannot be Met with Slander



It has to be stated again that the choice of quotes used in the speech by the Pope was anything but enlightened, and that uttered by a man of his standing and delivered before such a public gathering, was bound to lead to a reaction on the scale that we have seen thus far. What is more, it should be noted that apart from the reaction from the Muslim world, there was little unease or disquiet about the Pope’s speech elsewhere. Proof, if any was needed, that there exists an unhealthy tolerance for abuse of Islam and Muslims in many parts of the non-Muslim world today.

Solidarity Fast



• The NOWAR ARAB AMERICAN COMMITTEE is sponsoring a solidarity fast to say no to war and racism during the month of Ramadan. Please visit http://solidarityfast.blogspot.com for more information....

Pope Benedict's Comments Were Unwise and Provocative, But the Best Course for Muslims is to Turn the Other Cheek



The Pope’s remarks have been criticized the world over and he has apologized. That should be enough. In this crisis, there is an opportunity for Muslims. The Guardian put it best when it concluded by stating, “There cannot be dialogue without rigor and openness. The Muslim world should also take pains to be thoughtful in its response, and perhaps less quick to take offence.” Now is the time for Muslims to turn the other cheek. This is the ‘greater’ jihad.

Pope’s Remarks Reveal Need for Dialogue



Rather than fanning the flames of conflict with a nasty jab at Prophet Muhammad, I wish the Pope had instead engaged in a serious dialogue with Muslims, as have the Midwest Council of Catholic Bishops and Focolare, which is a very successful international Catholic interfaith movement. While it is good that the Vatican’s spokespeople have said the Pope regrets that his remarks caused affront, it would be better if the Pope disavowed Manuel’s description of the Prophet, and called for further discussion with Muslims, both in order to understand one another better and to share ideas and strategies about how to tackle the problem of violence in the name of religion and the use of religious rhetoric for political ends.

Identity Politics and the Ummah



Muslims must take their faith back into their own hands. It is indeed time for an Islamic Reformation (as scholar Reza Aslan has described), and the first step is for the ummah to stand up to those who bully it. Muslims must think for themselves, rebuff anyone who intimidates them into conforming to his vision of Islam, and never compromise their Islamic values, even in the heat of protest.

What it means to be Muslim



They went to the same school in Saudi Arabia – so how did they turn out so differently? By Mona Eltahawy Yasir Kazi was the last person I wanted to sit next to on the plane taking us from the...

Barking Up The Wrong Tree in Israel and Lebanon



How, then, can the world act to change the situation? The first is to acknowledge the essential humanity of each side. Israelis are not demons, nor are the Hizbollah fighters or Palestinians. Until we accept the value of every human life, white or brown, Jew or Muslim, it will be far too easy to dismiss horrific collateral damage and civilian loss of life as sad but unavoidable.

Just doing my part to improve relations between Muslims and Jews



Drop me and my breasts off to the Middle East and I will solve this crisis for you in no time.