Modifying the body is not, by any means, a new phenomenon and tattoos are among some of the oldest forms of bodily adornment. The content, application, and ascribed meanings within the practice of tattooing can vary widely depending on the geography and culture. Within Kurdish culture, this centuries-old practice is known as deq or xal…. Read more »
The Undying Red Border: Finding Bengali New Year in Exile* by Niger Sultana
As I sit in my quiet study room in America, the hustle and bustle of life back home seem distant, yet still so vivid in my memory. The last time I celebrated Pohela Boishakh—the Bengali New Year—in Bangladesh was in 2020. That year, I was surrounded by my students and colleagues at the Department of… Read more »
Nooruz in Central Asia by Ardahbek Amantur
Is there a Central Asian Nooruz? If you had been a companion of Marco Polo in the 13th century or a Russian empire’s intelligence collector in the 19th century and happened to pass through the Iranian town of Yazdi, the storied city of Bukhara, or the vast Dashti Kipchak steppe around March 20, you would… Read more »
Women in the Qurʾān: A Brief Analysis of the Discourse on Naming Women by Batool Dasan
Women in the Qurʾān: A Brief Analysis of the Discourse on Naming Women There is no doubt that women have an important presence in the Qurʾān. However, while the Muslim Holy Book acknowledges the names of more than 26 men including prophets and well-known figures, there is only one woman named explicitly, “Maryam,” the mother… Read more »
A Testament to Resilience and Faith: Brief History of African American Muslims by Paige Benner
From boxer Muhammad Ali to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, or civil rights activist Malcom X to basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, there is no shortage of impactful Black Muslims in the United States. While they are an integral part of the Muslim community, both in the US and abroad, too often Black Muslims in the United States… Read more »
Rediscovering the Purpose of Hijab by Nadia Ranginwala
We live in an era of extreme convenience, and it’s no surprise this has greatly dulled our capacity for hardship. When people can work remotely, do Instacart groceries, and see what their friends are up to without leaving the premises of home – discomfort becomes a counterculture. It’s easy to lose touch with the value… Read more »
New Year(s) and Calendars of the Muslim World
The world has recently entered 2025 per Gregorian calculations, but did you know that according to the Islamic calendar we are in the year 1446; and in 1431 in the Bengali calendar; or in 1403 in the Persian calendar? Or perhaps the year 10067 in the Yoruba calendar? While our understanding of what year we… Read more »
Mary in Islam by Dr. Aaron Ponce
Few in Western societies are aware of the importance of Mary in Islam. The Virgin Mary, or Maryam (مريم) in Arabic and Farsi, Meryem in Turkish, is among the most revered women in the Islamic tradition. In comparison to Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), and other women figures in Islam including Khadija and… Read more »
The Deep-Rooted Ties between Portugal and Islam by Paige Benner
Often when Americans think of Europe as a whole, they often associate Christianity and colonization. While this is often the case, there are beautiful cultures that lie within the minority of people in these areas. This concept is especially true in Lisbon, Portugal, a city I was lucky to study abroad in for the month… Read more »
Blended Thanksgiving by Lubabah Hassan
I always get excited when November rolls around. Not just because of the autumn weather and the pumpkin spice, but because it’s time for one of my favorite holidays: Thanksgiving! My family has celebrated Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember, but our traditions have changed over the years. When I was younger, we… Read more »