Introduction Halloween is around the corner once again. It is the second largest holiday in the US after Christmas. Every year Muslims are compelled to make the difficult decision of whether to participate in the festivities of Halloween occurring around them or to simply ignore what people are doing with the hope that they will […]
Read MoreArticles
What is the day of ʿĀshūrā’?
ʿĀshūrā’ is the 10th day in the month of Muḥarram, which is the first month in the Muslim lunar calendar. When the Prophet migrated to Madīnah he noticed that the Jews living there used to fast on this day and celebrate. Upon asking them why, they responded that this was the day when Allah saved […]
Read MoreDo I Have to Perform the Friday Prayer [Jumʿah] if ʿĪd [Eid] is on Friday?
I begin in the name of Allah, the most kind and merciful: Summarized Answer Scholars, past and present, have differed over this issue, so it should not be turned into a matter of dispute. It appears to me that Muslims should pray both the ʿĪd and Friday prayer. However, whoever decides to follow the other […]
Read MoreReflections on Police Brutality and Racist Culture in America
Ferguson Fallout: Normality and Tamir Rice By Imam Zaid Shakir The recent killing of Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio, casts a more brilliant light on many of the issues relevant in the case of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. I mention this because those who argue that if African American males just act normal and […]
Read MoreQuestioning Visibility Curves for the Sighting of the Moon
UPDATE 7-16-14: An additional section has been added near the end covering the Islamic Crescents’ Observation Project visibility map. As the reported sighting came in from Yemen on Friday June 27, 2014, one of my friends remarked, “that Yemeni must have been high.” I laughed, not only because Yemenis are known to chew a semi-intoxicating substance called […]
Read More