Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American speaker, interfaith activist, and author of the popular children's series called Yasmin. Follow her on Twitter @saadiafaruqi.
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4 Ways To Show Solidarity This Ramadan
In years past, I’ve invited my non-Muslim friends and community members to visit my mosque for interfaith Iftars. These were opportunities to discuss similarities in fasting across Muslim, Christian, and Jewish traditions, as well as chances to share food and friendship. Now, these interfaith events are impossible. But there are still ways to come together in friendship and solidarity for Muslims during COVID-19 Ramadan.
A Journey to 'Reasonable Faith'
Image via Anna Sneed.
There’s a difference between having a strong faith and being religiously obsessed, and religion can definitely be an addiction — in my view it becomes an addiction when it interferes with the rest of a person’s life, when following it means hurting oneself, or hurting other people. For me, I re-invented myself entirely in the wake of my conversion.
It’s Time to Understand the Islamic Veil
In a political environment in which the anti-Muslim rhetoric in the U.S. is particularly strong, and Europe is facing backlash against refugees and minority populations, a timely new anthology, Mirror on the Veil, offers a refreshing and important look at the very visible practice of veiling among Muslim women.
Weekly Wrap 10.21.16: The 10 Best Stories You Missed This Week
Need a laugh after all this election rhetoric? A comedy club in Miami made excellent fun of both candidates and encouraged voting along the way.
9. How Christian Entertainment Is Upending Stereotypes About Muslims
Comedy is a great way to learn about other cultures. Election or not, here’s one way to battle stereotypes while having a great time.
10. 25 Halloween Costumes That Won’t Lead You to Damnation
And finally … did we all forget it’s October?
The Truth About Muslim Women
Donald Trump’s attack against Ghazala Khan, the Gold Star Mother of Captain Humayun Khan, and the resultant #CanYouHearUsNow hashtag campaign is still reverberating around us on social media.
But while hashtag campaigns come and go, strong, independent Muslim women in America and abroad are here to stay.
4 Things to Know About Ramadan
Image via wsantina/Shutterstock.com
I like to call Ramadan a personal spiritual boot camp. One not only fasts but also prays more, is more careful of one’s interactions with others, tries to exhibit more patience and love. The hunger and thirst — even the overall sense of exhaustion one feels by the end of each day — is a fuel that pushes a Muslim to do better, to fight the internal impulses towards negativity and sin, and to become a better person. Is that possible without fasting? Maybe. But with fasting it is definitely probable. By the end of the 30 days of Ramadan, one feels invigorated, nearer to God, and somehow optimistic.
3 Ways to Be an Ally to Muslims
Image via Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com
The root causes of Islamophobia are intolerance and misinformation, causes that come in all sorts of ugly packages like anti-Semitism, religious bigotry, sexism, and even racism. Islamophobia is just one way that our own insecurities, fueled by bigotry and a lack of information, come back to haunt us in a very real way.