CULTURE, RELIGION

Thank you, Ramadan Tent Project, for my first Iftar

I’ve never been to an Iftar before. I’ve never really celebrated Ramadan before. Growing up in India, Ramadan was a cause of celebration simply because it was a holiday from school but with very few Muslims in my school, biryani never made its way into my home. And I know that Ramadan is more than […]

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POETRY & PROSE, RELIGION

Night of Power

“The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months…it is peace until the break of dawn.” —The Holy Quran, 97:3-5 . . .   Thick, feverish air swells in soft billows,  falling like gossamer over soundless trees, a whisper lost between the minutiae  of trembling grass shards.   Their souls brush against one another,  […]

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LIFE, OPINION, RELIGION

Coming to God: Reflections on Faith

A little over a year ago, I was at a point in my life when my faith was hitting an all-time low. I had no wish to pray. I felt unworthy of asking God for anything, and I didn’t think I deserved to get what I asked for. I didn’t feel very confident in my […]

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FOOD & NUTRITION, RELIGION

Anisa Karolia’s ‘The Ramadan Cookbook’

Food plays a huge role in Ramadan for Muslims around the world, abstaining from eating between sunrise and sunset with a pre-dawn meal of Suhoor and a family-cooked meal in the evening. It possibly bridges Anisa Karolia to her childhood memories of wandering into the kitchen to ask her mum what she was cooking. This […]

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EMPOWERMENT, POLITICS, RELIGION

Reimagining Resilience: Loving is our jihad

As we begin 2022, we reflect on the accomplishments, losses, and lessons of 2021. And as 2022 begins to look a little more like 2020-2, we remember our decision to name 2021 “The Year of Resilience.” As our team reflected on how resilient our communities are and have been, we also held the heaviness of […]

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CULTURE, RELIGION, THE ARTS

Daughters of a Different Path

Daughters of a Different Path is a story about a young African American woman, Leanna, who seeks her mother’s acceptance. After her mother rejects her decision of becoming Muslim, Leanna begins to deal with inner obstacles of doubt. The story is not only about Leanna’s conversion and the repercussions of her decision, but about transforming […]

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POETRY & PROSE, RELIGION

Muslim Enough

Featured Illustration: Shehzil Malik They ask me Are you fasting? Then look on with suspicion When I say no Waiting for some explanation As to why I’m not quite This caricature of a Muslim woman They’ve put together in their heads From scraps on the news, TV shows, movies, And their general opinion Of what […]

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