New Islamic Directions - Imam Zaid Shakir

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Go Forth Romantic Warrior!

by Imam Zaid Shakir

Go forth romantic warrior, to slay the beast of self. Go forth into the field of life, and relish in the wealth. Go forth romantic warrior, transcend the chains of time. Go forth beyond this world of strife, to learn of life sublime. Go… Read More

13 Comments

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Misunderstanding Not Treachery

by Imam Zaid Shakir

The blog entry I wrote several days ago in defense of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf was based on my misunderstanding of the events leading up to Shaykh Hamza’s participation the malaria eradication program sponsored by the Tony Blair Foundation in Los Angeles, September 25, 2008. In reality, it was a lot… Read More

11 Comments

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Imam Zaid’s ‘Id Khutbah

by Imam Zaid Shakir

I wish to extend warmest ‘Id Greetings to all of you. May Allah bless you all during this blessed season. Here is my ‘Id Khutbah. Insha Allah, you will find some benefit in it. http://newislamicdirections.com/mediacast/id-khutbah-1429-2008/ Read More

45 Comments

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May You All Have A Blessed Ramadan

by Imam Zaid Shakir

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10 Comments

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Drilling and Killing for God

by Imam Zaid Shakir

Yesterday, September 3, 2008, United States ground forces swept into Pakistan in a raid that resulted in the deaths of 21 Pakistani civilians. This raid has evoked outrage across Pakistan, and is a clear and unnecessary violation of Pakistani sovereignty. It comes in the context of increasing attacks in Afghanistan… Read More

10 Comments

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Peace and Justice in Islam

by Imam Zaid Shakir

We are living in a world where there could obviously be more peace. As Muslims, we realize this fact more than most people, as the peace of many of our brothers and sisters in various parts of the globe has been tragically disrupted –in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan,… Read More

53 Comments

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Peace and Justice in Islam

by Imam Zaid Shakir

We are living in a world where there could obviously be more peace. As Muslims, we realize this fact more than most people, as the peace of many of our brothers and sisters in various parts of the globe has been tragically disrupted –in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan,… Read More

3 Comments

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Hopefully, Obama is Not a Used Car Dealer

by Imam Zaid Shakir

In my article, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama, and the Fate of America, I mentioned that one of the things viewed as unacceptable to the political mainstream in this country is “a fair and just solution to the problem of meaningful Palestinian statehood.” With his slavish remarks at… Read More

115 Comments

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The Proper Approach to Debating

by Imam Zaid Shakir

Imam Shafi’i is related to have said: “Never do I debate a man with a desire to hear him err in his speech, or to expose the flaws in his argument, and thus vanquish him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently supplicate, ‘O Lord, help him so… Read More

17 Comments

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Signs for Those Who Reflect

by Imam Zaid Shakir

One of the skeptics came to Imam al-Shafi’i, May God have mercy on him and asked, “What is your proof for the existence of God?” The Imam replied, “The Mulberry leaf has a single taste, a single color, a single fragrance and a single shape. However, when the silk worm… Read More

80 Comments

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Know Your Enemy

by Imam Zaid Shakir

Imam Ahmad b, Sahl, May God have Mercy on him, mentioned, “Your enemies are four: The World, whose weapon is the people, and whose prison is isolation; Satan, whose weapon is satiation, and whose prison is hunger; The undisciplined soul, whose weapon is sleep, and whose prison is night vigil;… Read More

11 Comments

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Disabled Society

by Imam Zaid Shakir

The following poem is by a friend of mine, Imran Sabir, of Glasgow, Scotland. He shared it with me during my recent visit there. I am sure you will be moved by it as I was. I will let him tell his own story. Biographical Information I am 31… Read More

31 Comments

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Qualities of an Exemplary Leader

by Imam Zaid Shakir

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم فبما رحمة من الله لنت لهم و لو كنت فظا غليظ القلب لانفضوا من حولك فاعف عنهم و استغفر لهم و شاورهم في الأمر فإذا عزمت فتوكل على الله إن الله يحب المتوكلين القرآن ٣:١٥٩ Owing to Mercy from God, you were gentle in dealing… Read More

26 Comments

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Qualities of an Exemplary Leader

by Imam Zaid Shakir

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم فبما رحمة من الله لنت لهم و لو كنت فظا غليظ القلب لانفضوا من حولك فاعف عنهم و استغفر لهم و شاورهم في الأمر فإذا عزمت فتوكل على الله إن الله يحب المتوكلين القرآن ٣:١٥٩ Owing to Mercy from God, you were gentle in… Read More

4 Comments

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“Carrying the Word” From Emel Magazine

by Imam Zaid Shakir

‘Carrying the Word’ Reflections of an American Imam This cover article was featured in Emel Magazine’s May 2006 Issue http://www.emelmagazine.com Imam Zaid Shakir is, in many ways, the quintessential American: a youth with a two newspaper route, a high school football player,… Read More

3 Comments

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Should Muslims Use The “N” Word?

by Imam Zaid Shakir

Do not call each other by demeaning nicknames: How foul is a name connoting vileness... Al-Qur’an 49:11 I was recently involved in a forum entitled, “Should Muslims Use the ‘N’ word.” The event could have more appropriately been entitled, “Should Anyone Use the ‘N’ Word.” However, the reason for the… Read More

117 Comments