Currently Browsing: Notes
notes
The French Massacre: A Descent Into the Abyss
by Imam Zaid Shakir
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. Friedrich Nietzsche In the aftermath of the murderous spree in France, allegedly committed by a French “Jihadi,” Mohammed Merah, it should be clear to any observer that the so-called Jihad movement will never bring any good to…
Read More
notes
Syria and the Vagaries of Political Violence
by Imam Zaid Shakir
As Syria hurtles towards destruction, with the ongoing bombardment of Homs and the escalating assault on Hama, Dar’a, Idlib and many other Syrian cities and towns by a regime consumed by hubris, we can see clearly how political violence can lead to unexpected outcomes. At the beginning of the now…
Read More
notes
Giving Thanks
by Imam Zaid Shakir
The Hadith of Gabriel (Jibril) is considered by most Muslim scholars to be one of the fundamental texts of our religion. It presents, in a comprehensive way, the foundations of Islam. This is made clear by the fact that the Prophet, blessings and peace upon him, mentions to Umar ,…
Read More
notes
The significance of Abraham in Our World Today Needs to Be Asserted
by Imam Zaid Shakir
God mentions the origins of the pilgrimage, when He orders Abraham: “Proclaim the pilgrimage to humanity; they will respond, coming to the Sacred House on foot, riding every possible conveyance; coming from every distant path.” (22:27) It is related that Abraham responded by saying, “My Lord! How can I call…
Read More
notes
9/11 and A Tale of Two Cities
by Imam Zaid Shakir
This essay was begun a few days before the date marking the passing of ten years since the attacks of 9/11. I was unable to finish it until now. Charles Dickens opens his classic, A Tale of Two Cities, with this famous anaphora: “It was the best of times, it…
Read More
notes
We Are All Collateral Damage
by Imam Zaid Shakir
The Roads to Peace The roads to peace are paths of war, The gentle dove will leave her scar. The moral men to say the least, Will kill us all to get their peace. The roads that lead to victories gained, Are filled with people full of…
Read More
notes
Remembering 9/11
by Imam Zaid Shakir
I remember well the fateful day of September 11, 2001. I was locked in Jami’ al-Khayr at the far western end of the Damascene neighborhood of Muhajireen. Most masjids in Syria are locked between the prayers, with the exception of the evening and night prayer. However, the Imam allowed me…
Read More
notes
...and whatever you spend, God is well aware of it.
by Imam Zaid Shakir
On a recent flight from Europe, too sleepy to read and too uncomfortable to sleep, I watched a movie. The film was moving and powerful, The Grace Card. It dealt with the intricacies of race relations in Memphis, Tennessee. It culminated with an African American policeman donating a kidney to…
Read More
notes
Reflection on the Norway Massacre
by Imam Zaid Shakir
In the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, the idea of terrorism has been utilized by a cabal of anti-Muslim bigots in a way that elicits, in the minds of many, an association between Islam and indiscriminate violence. This association has been reinforced by propagandistic lies such as, “Not all…
Read More
notes
Race To The Top
by Imam Zaid Shakir
“The fight against racism is not over; we must redouble our efforts.” As the level of racially-charged exclusionary politics grows throughout the Western world, Muslims will have to contribute to the developing discourse to counter this problem. Doing so will require a plunge into the murky waters…
Read More
notes
The Islamic Legitimacy of the Uprisings in Muslim Countries
by Imam Zaid Shakir
An earlier version of this article appeared in EMEL Magazine. It is reprinted here with slight modification in light of requests for clarification on this very sensitive issue. This is a theoretical essay and should not be construed as an endorsement of any particular movement, as each movement would have…
Read More
notes
Allah: The Loving
by Imam Zaid Shakir
A family friend recently attended a lecture by one of the propagandists crisscrossing the country to inform his audience of the reasons Americans have to stop the “menace” of “Shariah” that threatens to “take over” American society. If that proposition was not being taken so seriously by so many people…
Read More
notes
What Went Wrong? Funny You Should Ask
by Imam Zaid Shakir
The refrain from an old popular song goes as follows, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of…” According to Nicholas Kristof, in his recent New York Times editorial, Is Islam The Problem?, the Muslim world doesn’t need more…
Read More
notes
Game Over…We Win?
by Imam Zaid Shakir
The current uprising in Egypt, coming in the aftermath of the popular revolution in Tunisia, is a monumental event that is altering all of the political calculations currently governing how we think about Middle Eastern politics. The emerging popular movements in the region have led to a swift reshuffling of…
Read More
notes
Speaking of Civility…
by Imam Zaid Shakir
America is understandably shaken by the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. That mindless assault claimed the lives of six individuals, including a promising nine-year-old child and a sitting federal judge. In the aftermath of that act there has been a call from many sides, including the President, for greater…
Read More
notes
Qur’an defeats Muslim Barbarism
by Imam Zaid Shakir
There has to be an honest and faithful understanding of the Qur’an”. One of the fundamental assumptions driving the current demonization of Islam and Muslims in the West is the idea that acts of wanton violence undertaken by isolated Muslim individuals, or the brutal…
Read More
