Indeed, He unites hearts.
To make it on social media, you must be loud, brash, self-assured. It helps if you’re capable of stirring up controversy, or telling people what they want to hear, or confirming prejudices and biases. Unfortunately, if you have such characteristics, you may be the worst possible person to represent a faith whose central hallmark is …
Spring is the best time for finding faith, for this is when we see the hibernating winter plants return to life right before our eyes, synthesizing cursive leaves from nothing but air, water and sunlight. If that doesn’t stir your soul, nothing will.
So pervasive is the negative narrative concerning our faith that whenever people meet a Muslim who seems very decent and honourable, they retort, “Well, they’re clearly not practising their religion properly!” So it is that apparently drug dealers, petty criminals, fraudsters and brigands have it all right, but those who have spent a lifetime studying, …
I am a believer. A practising Muslim. Observant of all core obligations, shunning every prohibition. But after a quarter of a century both walking this path and just growing as a human being, I no longer find the naive apologetics of our proselytisers very convincing. Recently, I have been attending a course with our son …
How easily we are coopted by the symbols of religion, lending support to aims diametrically opposed to all it stands for. Though the religion itself stands against such symbols, seeking to promote a state of safety and healthy living instead, the pious can be easily derailed by apparitions of religiosity. So it is that a …
These are tests for us and them, just as we are promised. And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to God, and indeed to Him …
There are Muslims in every nation and of every culture. We’re not asked to become what we’re not. We’re asked to be what we’re destined to become. O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, …
I’m a bit disappointed, but perhaps my disappointment is simply founded on my ignorance. Disappointed by the recent output of what I always believed was a progressive community organisation. Disappointed that they seem to be transforming into a reactionary group, just like every other group out there, pushing populist click bait, as they resurrect old …
“Leave it, for the sake of Allah.” These are the words I set upon after a passionate debate within, which raged for hours through the night. What I really meant is, “Abandon it, for the sake of your redemption.” It is not easy to leave something your heart clings to. This particular idol: a project …
Why not tell the truth? Because it will threaten your fame? Because your audience will shun you? Because your sect will disown you? Because you fear being abandoned? Then shun fame. Abandon your sect. The truth takes precedence over all of these. Be truthful, and be pleased with obscurity if it enables you to speak …
