September 17, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Wither the Arabs

Perceptively, Al-Mutanabbi, an Arab poet from the Abbasid era, remarked in a poem, “Wounding a dead body produces no pain” since life itself is already expired and with it all senses are gone.” The first part of the verse spoke of those who conduct themselves disgracefully then accept indignity as a norm, becoming like a…

Colonialism De-Colonial Islamic Politics

September 10, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Abraham: Persecution, refuge and renewal

The hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca,-the Hajj, an ancient ritual traced all the way back to Abraham, is just around the corner and it is the perfect occasion to contextualize this year’s gathering with an eye on the unfolding refugee crisis. By no means is this the first time the world has witnessed a…

Islam Islamic Education Muslim History

September 3, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Donald Trump’s racism pushes Republicans further to the fringe

The Aug. 31 Time Magazine cover had Trump’s image with the caption “Deal with it,” as if to say that the problem is with all of us and not with the candidate’s racism. Jorge Ramos, the anchorman of the largest Latino TV network, had to “deal with it” during Trump’s press conference when bullied out…

Colonialism Politics Race/Racism

August 27, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Climate change is a Muslim concern

The Oct. 18 declaration in Istanbul formulated by the International Islamic Climate Change Symposium is a significant development and a right step to build Muslim consensus on the environmental crisis. The declaration came at a time when the earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, witnessed the hottest month of July on record….

Islamic Politics Muslims in America

August 17, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Books and reading in the Muslim world: A serious crisis

An imperative verb “Read”, it was the first word revealed in the Quran and is repeated twice in the initial few versus. Considering that the Quran, according to Muslims, is the last and final revelation to humankind, the first command points to the centrality of reading as a foundation and the path to approaching, connecting,…

Islamic Education Islamic Thought Muslims in America

August 10, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Will AIPAC defeat Obama’s Iran deal?

The effort to win Congressional approval of Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal took a major hit this week when the third-ranking Senate Democrat, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, informed the White House and publicly announced his opposition to it. Senator Schumer, who is slated to lead Senate Democrats after the impending retirement of Harry Reid…

Colonialism De-Colonial

August 10, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Will AIPAC defeat Obama’s Iran deal?

The effort to win Congressional approval of Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal took a major hit this week when the third-ranking Senate Democrat, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, informed the White House and publicly announced his opposition to it. Senator Schumer, who is slated to lead Senate Democrats after the impending retirement of Harry Reid…

Islamic Politics Muslims in America Palestine

August 2, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Israeli racist settlers, burning toddlers and ‘price tag’

A year ago, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammed Abu Khdeir, was burned alive by Israeli terrorists in Jerusalem in a “price tag” revenge killing. The horrific burning of an 18-month-old toddler, Ali Saad Dawabsheh, due to an arson attack by racist settlers on the family home in the village of Duma, marks Abu Khdeir’s one…

Colonialism Islamic Politics Palestine Race/Racism

July 27, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Racism and Sandra Bland’s death

Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old black woman, is dead because of her skin color. A police officer stopped her for a routine traffic stop but Bland’s real crime in the mind of the officer and some Americas is that she is a black woman with a bad attitude. Attitude or no attitude, race and dark skin…

Colonialism Race/Racism

July 19, 2015 | Daily Sabah

Netanyahu’s Congress and Iran’s nuclear deal

The Iran-P5+1 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement is a major breakthrough in international diplomacy and points to a hopeful outcome for a region that has become accustomed to disappointment and chaos. After three years of long, intense multiple negotiation sessions, the concluded agreement provides for a pathway to resolve issues related to Iranian…

Colonialism De-Colonial Islamic Politics Palestine