Growing up in a Muslim household, situated in the Sunni-dominant country of Pakistan, I was exposed to various religious traditions, from fasting in Ramadan to Eid celebrations to praying on Holy nights. However, the significance of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic new calendar, was less emphasized or not clear enough to me. With… Read more »
The Everlasting Message of Ḥusayn: A Legacy of Humanity and Faith by Dr. SeyedAmir Asghari
The martyrdom of Ḥusayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his family, and his loyal companions is commemorated every year on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, particularly within Shia Islam. This event is central to the Shia faith, symbolizing the eternal struggle between truth and falsehood, justice and oppression.
Family, Society, Culture, and Heritage by Derya Doğan
Being a Muslim is becoming an increasingly complex faith-based identity, that is greatly impacted by cultural, social, historical, and political dynamics in today’s world. People have started using hyphenated identities such as liberal-, conservative-, secular-, or progressive-Muslim to define themselves. Some argue that using such terminology makes the Muslim identity about the politics of liberalism,… Read more »
Experiencing a Persian Heritage, Culture, and in a Muslim-Majority Country: Tajikistan by Mayesha Awal
In the summer of 2016, I embraced the opportunity to participate in a language-immersion program in Tajikistan through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). NSLI-Y is one of the U.S. Department of State’s government initiatives to foster international cooperation by ensuring that Americans have the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge necessary to effectively… Read more »
Muslim World Interactions and Battling Islamophobia by Derya Doğan
Despite a range of efforts by organizations such as Mipsterz, Pew Research Center, The Australian Muslim Women’s Center for Human Rights, and Muslim.sg to increase awareness about diversity of Muslims and Muslim cultures across the world, the stereotypical belief that all Muslims are Arabs, and all Arabs are Muslim, remains to be prominent. There is… Read more »
Entrepreneurship, Environmental Focus, and Cultural Awareness in Mbour, Senegal by Mayesha Awal
In 2017, I had the opportunity to visit the small town of Mbour in Senegal for a community service-learning trip. Senegal is a majority-Muslim country, with 97 percent of the population practicing Islam. I went to Senegal with an environment club during my undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, which was the largest sustainability-focused club on… Read more »
Music and War: Thoughts from Syria by Cecilia Ball and Madison McEwen
Music is widely understood as a key to understanding any culture, but Arab music should be considered a zenith of musical history and progression for the world. Frequently possessing long, haunting melodies and traditional instruments unused in the Western world, Arab music can invoke different feelings in listeners who are unaccustomed to its sounds and… Read more »
The Bektashi Sufi Order in Albania by Dr. SeyedAmir Asghari
Sufism, the inner and spiritual dimension of Islam, boasts a history as old as Islam itself. The chronicles of Sufi orders often intertwine with myths, and the Bektashiyyah order is no exception. The significance, impact, and influence of the Bektashi order since the sixteenth century, especially in the Balkans, are undeniable. Among the communities in… Read more »
On Zakat by Dr. Yusuf Nur
In Islam Zakat can be conceptualized as redistribution of wealth which is integral to Islamic equity and justice. It is an obligatory charity and one of the five pillars of the religion, with the other four pillars being the declaration of faith, the daily prayers, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca…. Read more »
Dismantling Islamophobia Through Citizenship Diplomacy by Patrick Lee
Experiences of an American Muslim, Immigration Attorney Sahar Taman* This fall semester, I had the pleasure of meeting Immigration Attorney Sahar Taman during my time as a student in Dr. Iman Alramadan’s 5th-year Arabic class. Ms. Taman is a highly accomplished lawyer, activist, and public servant. It was incredible to hear about her experiences… Read more »