The Banner of Peace
These are tough times.  Our values, outlooks, beliefs, lifestyle, and even our clothing are being attacked and ridiculed.  Each headline in the news, from about a mass murderer to a taxi driver, is being innacurately blamed on Islam, rather than a faulty human being.  There is no doubt that these are tough times for Muslims to be living in the United States. To the families and friends of those who suffered in the attacks on November 5, 2009, in Fort Hood, Texas:  Please accept our deepest condolences and prayers.  We are with you in your loss and pray that you will find peace in your hearts and courage to live your life in the best manner possible. Although this attac

Etiquettes of Prayer
Praying five times a day, salaat, is a gift that we have received from Allah through our beloved Prophet Muhammad .  It serves different purposes in our lives, from being a source of healing to a physical submission to Allah . Supplication, or du’a, on the other hand, is the informal prayer (as I like to call it) which we can perform at any place, at any time, in any la

“Look Into My Eyes” – a Song by Outlandish
When there is injustice done in the world, we usually hear only one side of the argument, the one that has the louder voice and almost always drowns out the voices of the other side. With the raging conflict between Israel and Palestine, we hear the side the world usually wants us to hear, the Israeli side – the ’self defense’, the ‘fighting against terrorism’ side. What is the other side thinking, what is their story? “Look Into My Eyes” by Outlandish is a song that embodies their story, the daily struggles of Palestinians. Its tunes carries the anger, the story, the questions of the average Palestinian. Outlandish is a Danish multi-r

My Hijab is for You, Too
Why do you wear the hijab? Muslims and non-Muslims alike have asked me the same question countless times.  While it is true that Islam, in addition to the spiritual enlightenment, has preferred women to wear the hijab for their safety and modesty, there are additional important reasons worth mentioning. I wear the garment for a further cause. I wear it because of you.  You read that correctly, sister – whether you are Muslim or a non-Muslim, I believe in the right of every woman that has ever lived or will ever live.  I believe that women are not reduced to the carrot-top beauties and big-chested supermodels. I believe that women should be regarded with re

“To Eat the Flesh of His Dead Brother” – What is Backbiting?
Sitting with my mother on the sofa with a remote control in my hand, I had the honor of watching an incredibly powerful and deeply moving lecture. This opinion might not be shared by everyone, but my life changed within the thirty minutes of the scholar speaking about two of the Major Sins which we might find ourselves indulging in every day: Backbiting and Gossiping. I must be honest, the many times I have heard these two words, distinguishing between them was a difficult task. Backbiting and gossiping seemed to blend into the same definition. Although I can not recall the name of the female scholar, her message now echoes in the following statements. Gossiping, tahmah