New Islamic Directions
Shorter reflections and statements on the events of the day.
Imam Zaid Shakir · January 12, 2008
In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue, An event that happened a bit too soon, ‘cause in sixty-nine they were on the moon. A happening not without precedent, The same place Galileo’s telescope went. Which isn’t to say…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · December 14, 2007
For that reason, we ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul for other than murder or spreading corruption in the land, it is as if he has killed the whole of humanity … Qur’an 5:35 One of the gravest charges levied against…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · December 5, 2007
The recent “Teddy-Bear” crisis in Sudan illustrates the failure of many Muslims to understand a stark reality; one that if left misunderstood will probably lead to a lot of unnecessary bloodshed in the Muslim world, and destroy the opportunity for…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · November 19, 2007
The world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, as quiet as it is kept, is not in Darfur. While the situation there deserves the attention it is getting it is far less grave than the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Somalia. The nature of that crisis…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · September 24, 2007
It is related that a devout worshipper by the name of Humam came to Imam 'Ali, may God ennoble his countenance, and asked him to describe the God conscious people so vividly that he could almost see them. Imam 'Ali responded: "Their speech is…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · September 11, 2007
By Imam Zaid Shakir September 11, 2007 This year, the birth of the invisible new moon, an event that will be followed in a day or two by the beginning of the month of Ramadan, upon the sighting of the waxing crescent in the evening sky, will occur…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · September 4, 2007
The following is a transcript of a lecture delivered by Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi of Oxford University, on the role of women scholars in preserving and transmitting prophetic tradition (Hadith) in Islam. The original transcript has been edited by…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · August 19, 2007
Sha’ban is a month of good that introduces the great month of Ramadan. The Prophet, peace upon him, used to fast voluntarily during this month more so than in any other month. One of the motivations for that, as we will mention below, is that…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · August 15, 2007
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali mentions in Lata’if al-Ma’arif : The month of Rajab is the key to the months of goodness and blessings that follow it. Abu Bakr b. al-Warraq al-Balkhi said: “Rajab is the month to sow the seeds; Sha’ban is the month to irrigate…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · August 8, 2007
Introduction Historically, one of the virtuous religious practices of Muslims is voluntary fasting during the month of Rajab. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of Muslims that consider this practice a blameworthy innovation. The following…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · August 2, 2007
Eye of the Storm Today, Wednesday, August 1, 2007, early in the evening, I departed from Mecca, that physically barren, but spiritually rich Arabian city, after two incredible days filled with prayer, Qur’anic recitation, supplication and rest,…
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Imam Zaid Shakir · July 28, 2007
It is related from the Prophet, peace upon him, that he said: “O God! Bless us in the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, and bless us to reach Ramadan.” (Imam Ahmad, Musnad 1/259) I have been truly blessed during this month of Rajab by being able to spend…
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