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Muslim Voices Indiana University

Commemorating Sacrifice and Resilience: Understanding the Importance of Ashura by Ashhad Hassan Malik

Posted on by IU Muslim Voices

Shrine of Imam Hussein. Photo by أخٌ_في_الله on Unsplash

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 time, I became accustomed to the decades old ideological divide between Shia and Sunni Muslims, particularly evident during Muharram, due to differing beliefs about the Day of Ashura. While Shias mourn the passing of the Prophet’s grandson, Hussain Ibn Ali, Sunni practices differ.

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The Everlasting Message of Ḥusayn: A Legacy of Humanity and Faith by Dr. SeyedAmir Asghari

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“Ashura, Hazireh, Yazd” by $ALEH is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

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.

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Family, Society, Culture, and Heritage by Derya Doğan

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Image Source: salaamedia.com

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.

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Experiencing a Persian Heritage, Culture, and in a Muslim-Majority Country: Tajikistan by Mayesha Awal

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“Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan” [Source: worldatlas.com]
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 communicate with non-Americans. NSLI-Y sends American high school students to specific countries that are of critical importance to the U.S. foreign policy to study their language and culture for year-long or summer durations. This experience stands out as one of the most impactful moments of my life, allowing me to delve into a language and culture about which I had previously known little.

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Muslim World Interactions and Battling Islamophobia by Derya Doğan

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Image Source: ihpl.llu.edu

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.

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Entrepreneurship, Environmental Focus, and Cultural Awareness in Mbour, Senegal by Mayesha Awal

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“Mbour” [Source: Tripadvisor]
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 campus, focusing on education, gardening, energy & water, environmental justice, zero waste, and bees teams. I was a part of their international committee and the only Muslim member.

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Music and War: Thoughts from Syria by Cecilia Ball and Madison McEwen

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“Great add to my collection! #vintage #vinyl #records #lebanon #ksa #calligraphy #design #egypt #music #arabic #typography” by alazaat is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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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The Bektashi Sufi Order in Albania by Dr. SeyedAmir Asghari

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“Baba Mondi” [Source: Euronews]
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 this part of the world, Albanian Bektashism represents a distinctive and dynamic expression of Islamic Sufism, deeply embedded in Albania’s spiritual and cultural milieu. It’s a syncretic fusion of Shi’ite Islam and Sufi mysticism, marked by a history rich in adaptation, resilience, and spiritual exploration. This blog explores the complexities of the Bektashi Muslim community by delving into its historical roots, spiritual doctrines, cultural importance, and the challenges it faces today. 

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On Zakat by Dr. Yusuf Nur

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Image Source: Zamzam.com

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.

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Dismantling Islamophobia Through Citizenship Diplomacy by Patrick Lee

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Experiences of an American Muslim, Immigration Attorney Sahar Taman*

Muslim Voices Project Collection

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.

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