Category: Diversity

Diversity, English, Extremism

The Diversity of Islam

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Nicholas Kristof, Oct. 8, 2014 A few days ago, I was on a panel on Bill Maher’s television show on HBO that became a religious war. Whether or not Islam itself inspires conflict, debates about it certainly do. Our conversation degenerated into something close to a shouting match and went viral on the web. Maher and a guest, Sam Harris, argued that Islam is dangerous yet gets a pass from politically correct liberals, while the actor Ben Affleck denounced their comments as “gross” and “racist.” I sided with Affleck. After the show ended, we panelists continued to wrangle on the topic … Continue reading The Diversity of Islam

Diversity, English, Extremism, Sufism

Who Are Sufi Muslims and Why Do Some Extremists Hate Them?

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By Megan Specia, Nov. 24, 2017 Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for God and shuns materialism. It has produced some of the world’s most beloved literature, like the love poems of the 13th century Iranian jurist Rumi. Its modern-day adherents cherish tolerance and pluralism, qualities that in many religions unsettle extremists. But Sufism, often known as Islamic mysticism, has come under violent attack in recent years. On Friday, Takfiri Islamist militants stormed a Sufi mosque on the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 305 people in what officials are calling the worst terrorist … Continue reading Who Are Sufi Muslims and Why Do Some Extremists Hate Them?

Diversity, English, Extremism, Sufism

Sufi Muslims face prejudice and negative stereotypes by some sections within Islam

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The world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are united in their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad and are bound together by such religious practices as fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and almsgiving to assist people in need. But they have widely differing views about many other aspects of their faith, including how important religion is to their lives, who counts as a Muslim and what practices are acceptable in Islam, according to a worldwide survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. The survey, which involved more than 38,000 face-to-face interviews in over 80 … Continue reading Sufi Muslims face prejudice and negative stereotypes by some sections within Islam

Diversity, English, Understanding Islam

Introduction to two mainstream sects of Islam: Sunni and Shia

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Sunni and Shia Muslims are similar in terms of their belief in oneness of God, finality of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Quran, fasting in Ramadan, the Hajj pilgrimage, the Zakat (charity tax), and several other basic tenets of Islam. Both sects have peacefully lived with each other barring a few incidents and phases of intolerance and violence. Both branches of Islam represent the early, mainstream versions of Islam and their differences are not only in some matters of jurisprudence but also in terms of politics. Sunni Shia Population ca. 1.2 billion (approximately 70–75% of Muslim population) ca. 200–250 million … Continue reading Introduction to two mainstream sects of Islam: Sunni and Shia

Diversity, English, Understanding Islam

Introduction to Islam: The Major Difference Between the Shia and the Sunni

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All the Muslims agree that Allah is One, Muhammad (pbuh) is His last Prophet, the Qur’an is His last Book for mankind, and that one day Allah will resurrect all human beings, and they will be questioned about their beliefs and actions. There are, however, disagreements between the two schools in the following two areas: 1. The Caliphate (successorship/leadership) which the Shiaa believe is the right of the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (the Prophet’s family). 2. The Islamic rule when there is no clear Qur’anic statement, nor is there a Hadith upon which Muslim schools have agreed. The second issue has … Continue reading Introduction to Islam: The Major Difference Between the Shia and the Sunni

Diversity, English, Sufism

Everybody Loves Ali ibn Abi Talib – Dr Muqtedar Khan

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Everybody loves Ali: Can He Bring Amity Between Shias and Sunnis? The Worst provision for the hereafter is aggression towards people. God Almighty commands justice and goodness. Justice is fairness and goodness is kindness. – Ali Ibn Abi Talib Of all the companions and relatives of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, none enjoys as much love, reverence, and respect as does Ali ibn Abi Tallib. He was the first male Muslim, a cousin of the Prophet, the husband of his dearest daughter Fatima, the fourth righteous Caliph of Islam, the first Imam of Shias, the dean of Muslim intellectuals, … Continue reading Everybody Loves Ali ibn Abi Talib – Dr Muqtedar Khan

Diversity, English, Sufism

Interview with Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr

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by Kaleem Hussain Originally published on: 26th May 2009 Interviewing Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the eminent specialist of the Islamic spiritual tradition, means talking about the core of spirituality in Islam, the contributions of Muslim scholars and thinkers in developing an original spiritual dimension, the formation and spread of schools and currents in Muslim sufism, and the role of Islamic spirituality in today’s world. In a learned, informed and easy discussion, Professor Nasr covers the issue brilliantly and shows what meaning can Sufism and spirituality bring to our modern world, to cure some of its ailments. Welcome to the Muslim Heritage … Continue reading Interview with Prof Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Diversity, English

Does Islam teach hatred for Non-Muslims?

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No. One of the fundamental teachings of Islam and one which every Muslim cultivates in his heart is that of brotherhood and equality of human beings. Since Islam considers the diversity of people and nature as God’s creation, respect for diversity is commanded. Especially noted in the Qur’an are “People of the Book”, namely Jews and Christians, who were always given a special place in Muslim society. Muslims are commanded to safeguard their right to worship and their places of worship, a command that has been historically followed, as is evidenced by the existence of old churches and synagogues throughout … Continue reading Does Islam teach hatred for Non-Muslims?

Diversity, English, Videos

Women’s rights in Islam – Alaa Murabit

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Alaa Murabit’s family moved from Canada to Libya when she was 15. Before, she’d felt equal to her brothers, but in this new environment she sensed big prohibitions on what she could accomplish. As a proud Muslim woman, she wondered: was this really religious doctrine? With humor, passion and a refreshingly rebellious spirt, she shares how she discovered examples of female leaders from across the history of her faith — and how she launched a campaign to fight for women’s rights using verses directly from the Quran. Courtesy: Ted Talk Continue reading Women’s rights in Islam – Alaa Murabit