altmuslim

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Monday, November 24, 2003

Bombings Bring Ramadan To A Somber End

The last ten days of Ramadan are the most special of this holy month, where Muslims are called upon to reflect deeply in prayers lasting through the night. One of these evenings is known as the " Night of Power," when Allah is said to be most receptive to the prayers of his believers. And while... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Tariq Ramadan's Blunt Comments Arouse European Ire

European Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan has always relied on straight talk to get his message out, both to a disaffected young Euro-Muslim population as well as a rigidly secular Europe wary of the growing clout of European Muslims. His book, "To Be A European Muslim," tries to forge a Muslim identity... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, November 14, 2003

Fast-A-Thons: The Start Of A New Ramadan Tradition

Two years ago, Muslim students at the University of Knoxville, TN decided to share Ramadan with their non-Muslim neighbors in a unique way - hold a " fast-a-thon " where local businesses pledge money to charity for each person who fasts for one day. Asking fellow students to "go hungry for a day so... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Ramadan Charity: All Saved Up And Nowhere To Give

It's that time of year again when American Muslim households are deluged with solicitations from Muslim charities vying for their piece of the Ramadan pie. Charity (zakat), obligatory for Muslims, is emphasized during the month of fasting and Muslim charities have come to depend on the boost in... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, November 10, 2003

Writing The Sublime: Mohamed Zakariya Heals With The Pen

In an age of digital art and laser printing, few Muslims have bothered to master the ancient art of Islamic calligraphy. To truly master such a medium takes years of tutelage under a dwindling number of experts around the world. One renowned artist, Mohamed Zakariya of Arlington, VA, is widely... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, November 6, 2003

Subcontracting Torture: The Case Of Maher Arar

Yesterday, a Canadian Muslim who was deported to Syria while traveling through the US broke his silence and told his side of a complex story that has people on both sides of the border asking questions about due process and excesses in the war on terror. "I am not a terrorist. I am not a member of... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

At Least Rosa Parks Was Offered The Back Of The Bus

Accounts of the situation differ, but what is known is that around 20 Muslim students at Fort Caroline Middle School, ages 10 to 14, were dropped off their school bus up to 8 miles from home for being too loud. It's bad enough that it isn't an appropriate response to loud kids, but according to the... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

White House Iftar Splits US Muslim Leadership

A few years ago, in the days before September 11th, the Clinton White House started an annual tradition of hosting a Ramadan iftar, inviting heads of various Muslim organizations who would gladly pose for photo opportunities and share a few words about community concerns. The iftar took on new... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 26, 2003

A New Ramadan Clashes With Modernity And Commercialism

In some parts of the works, the coming of the holy month of Ramadan is heralded by explosions. In other parts, it's heralded by the tinkling of cash registers. US soldiers in Iraq brush up on Ramadan rules (no eating, drinking, or smoking in public). Various militant groups either temporarily pause... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 23, 2003

Bush Tries To Kiss & Make Up In Indonesia

You've got to give President Bush credit - it takes courage to visit the world's most populous Muslim country, days after one of the top generals in the "war on terror" is revealed to have likened Muslims to idol-worshippers and Satan himself. With over 80% of Indonesians viewing the US unfavorably... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 20, 2003

Bosnia's Alija Izetbegovic Leaves Behind A Fragile Legacy

Former Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic, who died this week at the age of 78, will be buried today, but the inter-ethnic Bosnian presidency, revealing how short Izetbegovic came from his dream of a united Bosnia, could not agree on declaring a national day of mourning. Eight years after the... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 17, 2003

Mahathir Strikes Out: Fear Of A Jewish Planet

By Naeem Mohaiemen The OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) is starting its meeting in Malaysia this week under a cloud. Instead of being a dynamic world body, it is in danger of becoming an ineffective and dysfunctional organization. Take, first of all, the fact that the OIC conference in... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Saudis Open Tap Of Freedom - And Can't Turn It Off

Saudi Arabia can be a cautious country sometimes. Just last week, they turned back a shipload of 60,000 Australian sheep for fear that a few of them might be diseased. With that same sense of caution, the Saudi government will be following some of their neighbors in holding elections (albeit... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 13, 2003

What Effect Will Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Prize Have On Her Work?

Even the government which human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi fought on so many occasions was forced to offer tepid congratulations last week upon the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the 56-year old activist, who has worked for years under the guiding principle of the compatibility of Islam and human... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 10, 2003

Mindless "Martyrs": A Muslim Voice Against Suicide Bombings

By Shahed Amanullah & Naeem Mohaiemen When talking about modern terrorism, the frequently evoked image is that of the fanatical Muslim suicide bomber. However, in the context of modern warfare, these attacks are not exclusive to a Muslim heritage. In the 1980s, the Tamil Tigers inflicted many... Sign in to see full entry.

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