May 2013 M T W T F S S « May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 -
Recent Posts
- A Few Words On Christopher Hitchens’ Fondness for Noam Chomsky
- Bin Laden, Willful Destruction of Evidence, and the Rule of Law
- Personal Reflections on Knowledge, Writing and ‘Eloquence’
- Reflections on France’s Ban on the ‘Burqa’: An American Muslim’s Perspective
- Rolling Stone Special Report: War Crimes in Afghanistan
- Qur’an Burning, Violence and the Political Instrumentalization of Islam
- Reflections on Pakistan’s World Cup Loss: A Nation Impervious to Defeat
- Islam’s View on War and Terrorism: A Survey of the Qur’an and Prophetic Traditions
- An Introduction to Islamic Doctrine: A Young Muslim’s Perspective
- Were Imam Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah So Different, After All?
- Uncritical Reliance on Authority
- Rushdie Revisited and False Liberalism
- Salman Rushdie: A Question of Literary Genius or Family Loyalty?
- Selfless Love: A Young Muslim’s Perspective
Category Archives: Culture
Personal Reflections on Knowledge, Writing and ‘Eloquence’
As much as I would like to claim otherwise, I did not possess any bookish inclinations as a young child. To me, reading was something that required undue mental exertion and served as a bothersome distraction from the kind hooliganism … Continue reading
Reflections on France’s Ban on the ‘Burqa’: An American Muslim’s Perspective
It is rare to find a contemporary Western nation pass legislation that is so lacking in redeeming social and moral value that almost nothing can be said in its defense. In my mind, France’s recent ban on the Muslim burqa represents such … Continue reading
Qur’an Burning, Violence and the Political Instrumentalization of Islam
For many Muslims, writing about the recent Qur’an burning incident and ensuing criminality in Afghanistan is a highly problematic exercise. It puts one in the unenviable position of wanting to condemn subhuman behavior that contravenes the most elementary canons of … Continue reading
Reflections on Pakistan’s World Cup Loss: A Nation Impervious to Defeat
To ensure that I could watch today’s India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal without interruption, I opted not to go into the office this morning. I must confess that my knowledge of all things cricket is exactly zero, including not knowing the basics … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Islam, Pakistan
Tagged Faith, India, Islam, Pakistan, Pakistan Floods, World Cup
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Islam’s View on War and Terrorism: A Survey of the Qur’an and Prophetic Traditions
Perhaps no issue in contemporary politics is the source of greater misunderstanding and caricature than Islam’s view on war and terrorism. The indiscriminate bloodshed wrought on September 11th, the London and Madrid bombings, and the nearly daily suicide bombings that … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Islam, Law, Politics
Tagged Hadith, Holy War, Islam, Islamic Ethics, Islamic Morality, Islamic Rules of Engagement, Jihad, Just War, Muhammad, Old Testament, Qur'an, Religious Violence, September 11th, Suicide Bombing, Terrorism
6 Comments
An Introduction to Islamic Doctrine: A Young Muslim’s Perspective
Preface: What follows is the first segment to a multi-part “Introduction to Islam” in which I hope to discuss issues of general interest to a non-Muslim audience: Islamic doctrine, sacred law, women’s rights, the laws of war, Islam’s view of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Islam
Tagged Afterlife, Bible, Christianity, Doctrine, Forgiveness, Islam, Islamic Doctrine, Judaism, Prophets, Qur'an, Salvation, Sin, Vicarious Sacrifice
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Uncritical Reliance on Authority
A final word on Rushdie–what follows is a response I received from a mentor who served as a former professor of political philosophy at several prominent American universities and holds a PhD from Princeton. Despite being a committed atheist in … Continue reading
Rushdie Revisited and False Liberalism
My reluctance to publicly engage ‘controversial’ issues has never been on account of a fear of being judged or challenged, but rather a fear of being misunderstood. I would like to clarify a few points regarding my recent essay, “Salman … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Islam
Tagged Fatwa, Islam, Prophet Muhammad, Qur'an, Salman Rushdie, Satanic Verses
2 Comments
Salman Rushdie: A Question of Literary Genius or Family Loyalty?
Victor Klemperer served as a celebrated professor of literature at the Dresden University of Technology in the early part of the twentieth century. A Jew who was forced to flee Nazi Germany, Klemperer composed a diary during his time in captivity in which he expressed his unreserved … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Islam, Politics
Tagged Blasphemy, Boycott, Fatwa, Islam, Salman Rushdie, Satanic Verses
3 Comments
Selfless Love: A Young Muslim’s Perspective
Of Human Bondage is widely recognized as William Somerset Maugham’s greatest novel and, indeed, stands as among my favorite works of twentieth-century fiction. It is said to represent a highly autobiographical work in which WSM transposes his real life affliction … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Islam
Tagged Compassion, Friendship, Islam, Love, Of Human Bondage, Platonic Love, Qur'an, Relationships, Selflessness, William Somerset Maugham
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