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Murder Is Murder

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Jul 09, 2016 at 6:40 pm

The recent killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling are inexcusable outrages and the police officers involved in those shootings should be duly tried for their crimes. These and similar police killings, however, cannot be used as a blanket indictment against all police officers, the overwhelming majority of whom carry…

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Dabiq: An Argument Against ISIS

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Jul 06, 2016 at 1:13 am

The Hadith of Dabiq: A Proof Against ISIS One of the most powerful recruiting tools of ISIS has been its ability to create an apocalyptic appeal around the prophesized destruction of a “Crusader” army at Dabiq, a location in Northern Syria. So central has this idea been to the call…

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Suicide Murder

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Jun 28, 2016 at 10:33 pm

Once again, the filthy scourge of suicide murder has reared its despicable head, this time in Istanbul, Turkey. Innocent people are once again the target of brainwashed homicidal lunatics, one of whom was captured on film dispatching himself to Hell, the destination our Prophet (peace upon him) has promised anyone…

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Should We Apologize?

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Jun 19, 2016 at 1:34 am

In the aftermath of the Orlando murders many Muslims are adamant that they will not apologize for anything. This is a proper stance as our religion does not advocate collective guilt, nor collective punishment. We are informed in the Qur’an, “No bearer of burdens (a sinner) can bear the burdens…

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Ali’s Torch

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Jun 15, 2016 at 7:02 pm

Physically, the last phase of Muhammad Ali’s life was very difficult. The ravages of Parkinson’s Disease had robbed him of his health, vigor and voice. Spiritually, however, Ali was only strengthened as he approached the end of his earthly tenure. His illness could not steal his generous heart and noble…

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A Joint Muslim Statement On the Carnage in Orlando

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Jun 14, 2016 at 2:19 pm

On behalf of the American Muslim community, we, the undersigned, want to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the barbaric assault that occurred early yesterday morning at Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida. We unequivocally say that such an act of hate-fueled…

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On The Passing of Daniel Berrigan

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

May 06, 2016 at 10:16 pm

April 30, 2016 witnessed the passing of Daniel Berrigan. Daniel Berrigan, along with his brother, Philip, both ordained priests, are among the most recognizable names in the history of protest against American military imperialism. One of the distinctions of the Berrigan Brothers was the strong spiritual basis of their activism.…

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Spiritual Grammar and the Danger of Complaining

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

May 01, 2016 at 9:57 am

Complaining (Shakawa) to other fallible humans has no part in our religion. Sincere advice (Nasiha) does. What is the difference between the two? Usually, the complaint starts with what we describe as the first person, “I”. For example, “I don’t like…” “I don’t feel…” “I want…” “I think….” etc. Therefore,…

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A Poetic Reflection On The Life of Muhammad Ali

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Apr 28, 2016 at 1:21 pm

A Poetic Reflection On The Life of Muhammad Ali Part One: Ali the Fighter He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, the greatest fighter the world has yet to see. On one thing his opponents agree, they all got it right; in the ring with…

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Evolution or Revolution?

BY IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Apr 22, 2016 at 10:21 am

ISIS is squarely situated in the realm of modern utopian movements that are doomed to fail. The defining feature of these movements is captured by the British political philosopher, John Gray, when he says: “The use of inhumane methods to achieve impossible ends is the essence of revolutionary utopianism.”…

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