Uzma Saeed At some point in life, every person reflects on their existence and ponders the purpose of life. Why? As human beings, we possess the ability to reason, which sets us apart from animals. When people begin to look within themselves and feel a strong desire to find [...]
Laura El Alam When I embraced Islam nearly 23 years ago, I remember making shahada by testifying that there is one God, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His prophet. My heart and mind were at peace with this decision. Pressing my forehead to the [...]
As the holiday season approaches, many schools have Christmas themed activities and celebrations. However, for Muslim students, this time of year can be challenging, as they may feel excluded from the festivities that dominate much of the social and cultural landscape. Creating a more inclusive environment during the holiday season [...]
By Melissa Barreto Recently, I was talking with a friend who was reflecting on her journey coming into Islam. She said, “...converts can make a lot of mistakes. People who are novices at anything make a lot of mistakes.” This simple admission resonated deeply within me and brought on a [...]
Exploring the intersection between LGBTQ and the Islamic faith can be both delicate and polarizing. While Muslims often view sexuality from a moral standpoint, those within the LGBTQ movement view Islamic teachings on sexuality as backwards and in need of reform. They have asserted that any disagreement with LGBTQ lifestyle [...]
A question people often ask is whether Islam has a central authoritative figure, like a pope. Islam is a faith that does not have any institutional hierarchy that is similar to Catholicism. When the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was alive, he served as the ultimate religious authority. However, [...]
As followers of the Abrahamic faith, Muslims follow many of the same religious practices as Jews and Christians. Muslims believe in many of the same Prophets as Jews and Christians such as Abraham, Noah, David, Solomon, Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them all. However, Muslims view all Prophets, [...]
By Laura El Alam People who embrace Islam are often called “converts,” and some members of the Muslim community insist that the correct label is “reverts.” Ustadh Wm. Halim Breinnis believes that both “convert” and “revert” are insufficient terms. In this interview, Usdadh Halim explains why these terms can [...]
By Uzma Saeed Several years ago, one of my very close relatives died leaving behind a pile of debt. Needless to say, his children were devastated. Their pain was two-fold; losing their beloved father and the unpaid personal loans he had taken from friends and family. He was an [...]
Are you a counselor with a Muslim client? There is a growing concern among Muslims that mental health professionals either do not respect their religious beliefs or simply are not aware of basic Islamic values, and thus offer a therapy that is incongruent with their belief system. This article proposes [...]
