by Dawud Walid and Dr. Hatem El Haj As Muslims committed to Islamic sacred law, we appreciate the sincere outpouring of concern among college students throughout the West who seek to put an immediate end to the genocide against our brothers and sisters in Gaza, as well as seek freedom for Palestinians from illegal occupation. Given that we are teachers of varying Islamic sciences and engage students and activists, we have some words of encouragement, plus sincere advice in staying true to prophetic etiquettes for Muslim advocates engaged in protests and university encampments as well as those ..read more

Anniversaries of the foundation of the Israeli state in May 1948 are usually marked with grief over the loss of Palestine and the slaughter and displacement of its people in favour of a supremacist ethnostate. On this anniversary (May 15, 2024), as Palestine faces perhaps its greatest and certain bloodiest challenge since then under an unrepentant Israeli genocide, we decided to recall some of the notable figures in early Palestinian history – people who resisted and confronted with body and soul, word and deed, the ethnonationalist Zionist movement and the British occupation behind it. Backgr ..read more

Crackdown on Academic Freedom, Says Protester Persistent obstruction from their administration has forced pro-Palestine protesters at Princeton University to a hunger strike since early May 2024. Student protesters against Israel’s genocide of Gaza, and Princeton’s academic links to Israel, have faced repression, including two arrests and threats from the university’s highest levels, as part of a pattern of American universities cracking down on pro-Palestine activism in the past month. Muslim Matters was able to contact the spokespeople of the Princeton Israeli Apartheid Divest movement, who ..read more

My sister died from healthcare negligence. Here’s what I learned. My sister had died due to negligence in a hospital in the US. In her full niqab and while pregnant, my sister was neglected in several ways that led to the loss of both her and her child. It was one of the saddest days of my life. She was only recently married and we were all excited, days away from seeing our family’s first grandchild. However, despite her cheerful nature, beautiful personality, high education, and abundant generosity, she endured several negligent care provider decisions that led to the death of her and her un ..read more

Editor’s Note: This article was originally written in 2014 for the Islamic Monthly, and has been republished with permission from the author. Interfaith work has the potential to create and sustain profound relationships across religions.  But what happens when interfaith work becomes a trojan horse? In this piece I explore the Muslim Leadership Initiative, a program which sends American Muslims leaders to Israel to study Judaism and Zionism and is funded by the Shalom Hartman Institute, a Zionist and anti-BDS organization.  I’ve broken down the narrative into five parts – the actual ..read more

A cascade of sunlight flooded in as I pulled back the blinds. The sun’s gentle caress felt like a comforting break. The vibrant, “pretty in pink” color of bougainvillea flowers in our front yard peeking through the window creates a cheerful scene contrasting with the cold weather and breathes a sigh of relief. After months of being around people, I found solace in my room filled with amber hues, which held a stillness that resonated with my introverted nature. Busy crowds and the noise of life often leave me feeling drained, and reflecting is my usual way to recharge. There are times when we n ..read more

[Note from the author: “I was asked to speak to students at Georgetown, as well as at the encampment at George Washington University. This post is adapted from that talk: Then the Sea Split.”] The Arresting Power of the Quran Most times, we read the Quran like the speed limit on a highway – a quick glance, half-acknowledgment, and then continuation at the same speed irrespective of its instructions. A heedless heart passes admonishment after admonishment, knowing that it is negligent, and yet negligent of its own negligence. Life passes, signs pass, recitation of the Quran passes, and our spee ..read more

Irtiza Hasan and Zainab bint Younus talk to Abdullah Syed, the Executive Director of A Continuous Charity – an organization dedicated to providing interest-free student loans to aspiring Muslim students. If you’re a student, find out how you can avoid declaring war on Allah and His Messenger by connecting with A Continuous Charity! For those who aren’t students, ACC can still be on value to your community: your siblings, your children, or other promising youth. Tune into this episode to learn more about ACC’s work, and how your community can invest in this incredible opportunity for sadaqah j ..read more

Part of the beauty of Islam is that it provides us with many types of mothers. No matter the circumstances that surround your particular motherhood journey, whether you are a biological mother or a mother figure in someone’s life, your impact is immeasurable. Your selflessness and devotion create a nurturing environment where your children can flourish and thrive. To all the mothers who labor tirelessly for your children every day, know that your dedication and sacrifices do not go unnoticed. You pour your love and energy into nurturing and guiding your children, shaping their lives with your ..read more

Abu Ayyub reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he has fasted for the entire year.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1164] (This story is an adaptation of “The Six Servants,” compiled by the Brothers Grimm) *** The Pawang and Bomoh Once upon a time, there lived an elderly pawang who practiced magic in the jungle. As powerful as she was, sorcery could not save her husband from the throes of war. He passed tragically in the Malayan Emergency. With her dau ..read more