Companions of ‘Ali Series: Muhammad b. Abi Bakr, the Governor of Egypt

As the 19th of Ramaḍān has once again come, the night on which ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (d. 40/661) was fatally struck, it would be of benefit to share some details about his close companions, and in this particular case Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr (d. 38/658).  Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr, as his name identifies, wasContinue reading “Companions of ‘Ali Series: Muhammad b. Abi Bakr, the Governor of Egypt”

Malcolm X and Macaulayism; the Intersectionality of Epistemological Oppression

Malcolm X and Macaulayism; the Intersectionality of Epistemological Oppression Written by: Shabbir Agha Last year (2020), on the anniversary of her father’s assassination, Ilyasah Shabazz was giving a lecture about her father’s philosophy and what he was desperately trying to accomplish in the last days of his life. She began her talk by quoting herContinue reading “Malcolm X and Macaulayism; the Intersectionality of Epistemological Oppression”

Majlis-i Husayn, an Institution: An Exposé into the Practice of Emotive Choreography

Written by: Agha Shabbir Abbas Introduction If one were to type into a search engine the words ‘Shia Muslim India’ or ‘Shia Muslim Pakistan’ the very first images to be displayed would be that of muharram mourning processions, typically consisting of violent forms of self-flagellation. While the scenes may depict chaos and anarchy, the truthContinue reading “Majlis-i Husayn, an Institution: An Exposé into the Practice of Emotive Choreography”

Question on ‘Ismah

What is ‘ismah, and why do Shi’i Muslims believe in it? Earlier in the year, a [Sunni] chaplain at an American university sought our help answering this oft-repeated question, and the following was our response: Grammatical Answer: The controversy surrounding the concept of ‘ismah (عِصْمَة‎) is largely due to an incorrect orientalist-era translation from theContinue reading “Question on ‘Ismah”

Open Letter to the Imams of Friday Prayers, From Concerned American Muslims

  بسم لله و بالله و الحمد لله وكفى وسلام على عباده الذين اصطفى In the name of Allah, by Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and peace be upon those servants of His whom He has chosen al-Salamun ‘Alaykum Hadrat al-Shaykh / al-Sayyid al-Muhtaram: The pulpit of our beloved Prophet (s) is aContinue reading “Open Letter to the Imams of Friday Prayers, From Concerned American Muslims”

Story of Imam Musa al-Kazim and a descendant of ‘Umar b. al-Khattab

Story of Imām Mūsā al-Kāẓim and a descendant of ‘Umar b. al-Khaṭṭāb Translated by Shabbir Agha Abbas We find in Tārīkh al-Baghdād, continuing Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. Yaḥyā al-’Alawī’s (d. 358/969) narrative of the life of Imām al-Kāẓim (d. 183/799) based on his grandfather Yahyā b. al-Ḥasan’s* report. The report is as follows: “My grandfatherContinue reading “Story of Imam Musa al-Kazim and a descendant of ‘Umar b. al-Khattab”

Economic Justice in the Qur’an; Our Personal Responsibility

Economic Justice in the Qur’an; Our Personal Responsibility By Agha When it comes to the practice of ‘American’ Islam, it seems that there is a hyper-focus on building, maintaining, and expanding mosques. While there is no doubt that mosques represent the heart of Islamic life, where we seek guidance and education, as well as spiritualContinue reading “Economic Justice in the Qur’an; Our Personal Responsibility”