Islamic History

Contemporary Muslim Artists continue to adapt Islamic Patterns to challenge Ideas about fixed Culture

By Soheila Kolahdouz Esfahani, Western University | – What is culture? In today’s globalized world, we are familiar with seeing various cultural objects and ornamentation outside of their original location or context. If culture is not fixed and bound to a particular location, how does culture move and transform? Ornamentation in Islamic art — patterned […]

Christianity

For Easter: The Joyous, Dancing Ascendant Christ in a Love Poem of Hafez

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Just as Good Friday is a time for sober reflection and grief at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, so Easter Sunday is a time for blissful celebration at his rising from the dead and his ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. In keeping […]

Islam

The Israeli Attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque is not Local but an Insult to Muslims Worldwide

Middle East Monitor

Ismail Patel | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – Masjid Al-Aqsa has been in danger since the Israeli Occupation of East Jerusalem began in 1967. Since the occupation, the Israeli authorities have allowed Israeli extremists to intimidate and violate the sanctity of Masjid Al-Aqsa. However, in the past decade, the attacks on Masjid Al-Aqsa […]

Africa

Timbuktu Manuscripts Online promise to re-balance the African Continent’s place in World intellectual History

The Conversation

By Charles C. Stewart, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | – The ancient Timbuktu manuscripts of Mali were back in the headlines following internet giant Google’s initiative to host a collection of them at an online gallery. The images of the documents, text in Arabic, can be found at a page called Mali Magic. No […]

Islam

Why did a far-right Israeli Parliamentarian storm into the Sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque?

Middle East Monitor

By Nabil Al-Sahli | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – A far-right member of the Israeli parliament stormed into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque last Thursday. Extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir was guarded by a heavy police presence at the time. His incursion fell within the context of Israel’s long-term strategic political goal to Judaise occupied […]

Archaeology

Israeli Archeologists find Proof of Muslim-Christian Ecumenism among Crew of Shipwreck from Dawn of Islam

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Ariel David writing at Haaretz reports on Haifa University marine archeologists who have been investigating a shipwreck that sank off the coast of early Muslim-ruled Palestine sometime between 648 and 740 A.D. The find provides some evidence for the economic robustness of this era, and for strong connections between the […]

Islam

What is Ramadan and why does it require Muslims to fast?

The Conversation

Mehmet Ozalp, Charles Sturt University | – Intermittent fasting is now becoming popular, with many promised health benefits. But Muslims have been practising fasting in the lunar month of Ramadan for centuries. The Ramadan for 2022 will start on Saturday April 2 and go for about 30 days. It is then followed by the three-day […]

Islam

Crimea’s Peaceful Muslim Tatars Dared come out against Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine

Brian Glyn Williams

( The Conversation ) – As Vladimir Putin’s forces wage a brutal war against Ukraine, the Crimean Tatars living in Russian-occupied Crimea and on the Ukrainian mainland feel particularly threatened by their historic enemy’s latest invasion. Some have vowed to defend Ukraine, a land many fled to in 2014 after Putin’s forces invaded the Crimean […]

Islam

Juan Cole’s New Book “Peace Movements in Islam” – Interview by Jadaliya

Juan Cole

Via: Texts out Now: Jadaliya (Excerpt from the Jadaliya Interview – go to original site for full text.): Jadaliyya (J): What made you edit this book? Juan Cole (JC): I began this project in 2015 because of the avalanche of writing in the United States and Europe about the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq and […]