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.
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, conservatism, or progressivism, and less about religion. Others may argue that this is an attempt to distinguish oneself from concepts of fundamentalism or Westernism, while still maintaining a cultural identity shaped by Islam.
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 a non-stop battle of repeatedly explaining to those outside the Islamic faith that Muslims come from all over the world and each person, community, society, and nation may have variations in the way they practice their faith(s), a rule of thumb that should also be applied to understanding the Muslim world.
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 melodies. Although the lyrics are not accessible or understandable to non-speakers of the Arabic language, they are often used to convey political messages or to speak of everyday problems faced by civilians.
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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. The last pillar is only required once in one’s lifetime only if they can afford it and are healthy enough to undertake the journey.
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 and her advice for those interested in the world of immigration advocacy, a field I am passionate about as I look to use my Arabic language skills post-graduation. I have often viewed this area of public services as daunting and time-intensive, but Ms. Taman serves as an important reminder that such work is both possible and necessary.
As the month of March looms on the horizon, many parts of the Middle East and Central Asia are uplifted by the promise of Nowruz—a celebration of hope, resilience, the promise of brighter days and a better year to come. To those who celebrate it, Nowruz isn’t just a date on the calendar. It is a testament to human yearning for renewal, for a world adorned with verdant meadows, abundant rainfall, and the bountiful harvests that sustain them. The hope that it offers is a beacon of light amidst the darkness and coldness of the winter. It heralds the arrival of spring and the promise of a happier, healthier, and more prosperous year ahead.