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Archive for May, 2014

Introductory Essay

Monday, May 5th, 2014

True Islamic Worship Meets Culture, Society, and Nationalism                 Islam, in its literal meaning, refers to submission to Allah, and a Muslim is one who submits to Allah. By these broad definitions, well-known Jewish and Christian figures like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus qualify as Muslims; indeed, they are deemed as prophets in Islam. Such understanding […]

Blog Post 6, Complaint and Answer

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

  What determines that Allah is in favor of one’s worship? To the early caliphs of Islam, from whom arose the authority figures of Sunni Islam, territorial expansion, remarkable constructions, etc., were evidences of Allah’s favor toward them. To the Shi’a Muslims, whose history has been characterized by martyrdom and political defeat, oppression, suffering, and […]

Blog Post 5, The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

  For much of the United States of America’s history, the nation has been characterized by strong Christian sentiments, those bore by the early European settlers of the land. But, with historic immigration of people from other nations, religions other than Christianity made way into the United States and found welcome venues across the nation. […]

Blog Post 4, based on The Conference of the Birds

Friday, May 2nd, 2014

  Why should any person worship God? Is worship to be a means to escape eternal damnation or a means to satiate one’s own pleasures? According to 8th century Muslim, Rabia al-Adawiyya, worshipping God should be the for the sole purpose of honoring God, not for escaping eternal fire of hell or even meeting one’s […]