New Islamic Directions
Shorter reflections and statements on the events of the day.
Imam Zaid Shakir · June 20, 2008
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…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · June 4, 2008
By Richelene Mitchell, Foreword by Imam Zaid Shakir It was the year 1973; the Vietnam War was officially over and Watergate was to begin. Pink Floyd’s, Dark Side of the Moon , was the coveted album of the year, reggae music was launched and…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · May 21, 2008
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…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · May 18, 2008
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,…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · May 15, 2008
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…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · May 1, 2008
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 years of…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · April 2, 2008
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 with…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · April 2, 2008
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 with…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · March 26, 2008
'Carrying the Word' Reflections of an American Imam This cover article was featured in Emel Magazine’s May 2006 Issue www.emelmagazine.com Imam Zaid Shakir is, in many ways, the quintessential American: a youth with a two newspaper route, a high…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · February 27, 2008
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…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · February 2, 2008
Black History Month should be of interest to every Muslim, especially in America. It is estimated that upwards to 20% of the Africans enslaved in the Americas were Muslim. [1] In some areas, such as the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia, and parts of…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · January 23, 2008
As we celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on a national holiday dedicated to his honor, many people point to the surging presidential candidacy of Barack Obama as evidence of how far this country has come in terms of race relations…
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