religion

“They should not have entered them save in fearful reverence.”

US Voters poised to Elect 2 Muslim Women to Congress

by Nova SAFO | – Chicago (AFP) – US voters are poised to elect two Muslim women to Congress in the midterm election next week, marking a historic first even as anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric has been on the rise. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee, is all but certain to be elected to the US […]

Antisemitism

The GOP’s Dark Side: Trumpism puts Jews and other Minorities in the Crosshairs

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Republican Party is not directly responsible for the spike in hate crimes toward minorities. But it is indirectly responsible in three ways: 1. The party has largely allowed itself to be captured by the alien ideology of Trumpism 2. The party is running at least 16 far, far right […]

Islam

In the Muslim Scriptures, making Peace takes Precedence (re: Juan’s new Book)

Juan Cole

The chapter of The Cow in the Qur’an, 2:224, says, “Do not render your oaths in God’s name an obstacle to being pious and godfearing, or to making peace among people. Truly God is All-Hearing, Omniscient.” As with many Qur’an verses, the exact issue here is not clear, since the Prophet Muhammad recited the Muslim […]

Antisemitism

Gunman blamed Jews for Bringing Muslims, Honduran Caravan to US

Jennie Matthew

with Issam AHMED in Washington | – Pittsburgh (AFP) – In the months leading up to Saturday’s massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Robert Bowers used a little-known social network to spew hatred toward Jews, calling them the “Children of Satan” as he showed off his “family” of firearms. The 46-year-old faces the death penalty after […]

Antisemitism

Does anti-Muslimism enable anti-Semitism?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The outbreak of violence in the past week by two far right extremists, one of them a big Trump fan and the other inspired by Trump talking points but somewhat to the president’s right, has been deeply entangled with violence against minorities. Cesar Sayoc, the would-be pipe bomber, targeted billionaire […]

Muslim-Americans

Muslim-American Community Raises Money for Pittsburgh Victims

TeleSur

The campaign, hosted by Muslim crowdfunding site LaunchGood, aimed to help the victims, “whether it is the injured victims or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones”. The Muslim-American community had raised tens of thousands of dollars in a crowdfunding effort to help Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims which left at least 11 dead and […]

Qur'an

Juan Cole on “Muhammad: Prophet of Peace” @ Zero Hour (Video)

Juan Cole

The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow

Islam

Islam: The Essence of the Qur’an is Compassionate Love: Qur’an 90

Juan Cole

An early chapter of the Qur’an is 90, “The City.” It contrasts the wealthy elite of Mecca in western Arabia in the 610s of the Common Era with the small band of Muhammad’s Believers. Verses 12-17 go this way: And how would I make you understand the steep path? It is freeing a slave or […]