Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
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We are scholars concerned about stereotypes, misinformation and propaganda spread in the media and academic forums on Islam and the Middle East. We are committed to fair, open-ended scholarly assessment of the current political issues of terrorism, gender inequality and intolerance
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
5d ago
Egypt has long been a land of wonder for advertising. In the March 1919 periodical ‘The Century’ the very first ad is for a brand of cigarettes so divine they could be offered to Egyptian deities. Of course this tobacco is for “People of culture and refinement” in an age before lung cancer was thought about. However, there was the saving grace of Palmolive soap, “The Oldest of Toilet Requisites.” Clearly, “that radiant cleanliness was the crowning art of all.” So whether you want to light up or wash up, you can do it like the ancient Egyptians. At least you could in 1919 ..read more
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
3M ago
There are quite a few songs from the early 20th century Vaudeville Days that feature the Middle East. Did you know that Cleopatra had a jazz band? Feel free to sing along. Here is the Youtube video ..read more
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
4M ago
In a non-academic website called Atlas Obscura, there is an article with the entertaining title: “Before Drinking Coffee, People Washed Their Hands With It.” The article was written by Nawal Nasrallah, an Iraqi scholar who has published excellent work on classical Arabic recipe books. However, this particular article is anything but sound scholarship. Her main argument is that a “mysterious ingredient” very similar to coffee was known five centuries before the documented appearance of coffee, known in Arabic as “bunn“, as a drink. “However, instead of bunn, it was called bunk, and rather than ..read more
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
5M ago
Yemen,
your body lies crushed
beneath the rubble that was the home
where you were born
your blood floods the land
where sorghum supplied every need
your breath is a raging wind,
a gasp in the swirling dust
but despite all odds you cling to life,
you sing, you dance, you will not be denied.
Sanaa,
your towering buildings bow down
in prayer for the dead
the saila swells with your tears
Bab al-Yemen closes its eyes
blinded in dark nights more dense
than locusts devouring all they see
but as the bombs flash
hope shines through the alabaster
carved by your grandfathers’ hardened hands.
Yemen,
your ..read more
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
7M ago
This is an excellent Youtube talk by Ahmad al-Jallad on the evidence from the rock inscriptions and graffiti from the Arabian Peninsula. Also check out his excellent book on religion and ritual in the Safaitic graffiti ..read more
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
11M ago
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
1y ago
My podcast with Ahmed AlMaazmi and Tamara Fernando is posted online on the New Books Network ..read more
Tabsir | Insight on Islam and the Middle East
1y ago
On April 9 the Middle East historian Jere Bacharach, emeritus professor at the University of Washington, passed away. He was an amazing individual, great scholar and friend. He will be missed. For the department memoriam, click here ..read more