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,…

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…

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…

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…

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;…

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…

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…

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…

‘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,…

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…