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 »
Muslim World
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 »
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, 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 are… 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 »
Whatever shape vase you pour Islam into, it takes that shape: Reconciling My Cherokee Heritage and My Muslim Identity by Sarina Asbury-Bagcioglu
As a convert to Islam, or rather a “revert,” I have faced challenges navigating the metamorphosis of my identity that has been shaped by many factors, including my background, cultural traditions, and societal attitudes. In blending my Native heritage and Muslim faith, I have built a strong personal sense of self and connection with my… Read more »
“Jewish and Christian Women’s Use of Islamic Law and Courts in Persia during the 7th cen. CE” by Lindsay Ruth
Beginning in 636, an Arab Muslim army set out to conquer one of the most important empires of the ancient world, the Sasanian Persian Empire. The religiously diverse population experienced new rulers, a new elite class, and even a new religion taking over the once-Zoroastrian dominated former world power.[1] Since the conversion of subjects was… Read more »
Roots Run Deep: Celebrating a Rich Linguistic Heritage by Sofia Herrera
HISPANIC—from the root word Hispania, it refers to the regions of Iberia, and ultimately the language there, too. Is the Spanish language the main unifier for those with Hispanic heritage? Much of the food, music, and culture of Latin America originate from three different continents and centuries of cultural diffusion under colonization—and Spanish remains the… Read more »
Al-Mawlid Al-Nabawi: A Global Celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birth by Dr. Attia Youseif
Mawlid al-Nabi, also known as the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, is an annual celebration that holds deep religious and cultural significance for Muslims across the globe. The term “Mawlid” comes from the Arabic word “مولد,” meaning “birth,” and the full expression “Mawlid Al-Nabi” or “AL-Mawlid Al-Nabawi” translates to “the birth of the Prophet.” Observed on the… Read more »