Articles
Do you really need to recline your seat?
I was on an international flight recently, and in true capitalist fashion, the airline packed us in like sardines.
Itβs a flight. You deal with it. The discomfort is temporary.
But about two hours in, the chaos began. A few folks in my line of sight decided it was time to recline their seats. And just like that, three arguments broke out.
MORE INFOThe Humanitarian Mayor
Mayor Mohamed Khairullah’s faith in God and the principles with which he was raised continue to drive him to risk his life and political career to remain a source of support to the Syrian people yearning for the basic rights enjoyed in the United States. The mayor graciously shared with Al-Madina a few stories of his trips to Syria and his reflections on the ongoing crisis in that region.
Sharing Stories of Sensuality: Choosing Our Words Carefully
As a community, we need to stop patting people on the back and encouraging them to find themselves by sharing mistakes from their past, disguised as a gift of warning to the world. We need to remind ourselves of the importance of hayaa’ and take back our own narratives in our own tongue. Ignoring taboo topics won’t make them go away and by no means will they disappear if we don’t talk about them. But there is a fine line between using crude language that encourages a bragging of sorts and using modest language that explains and warns in an age-appropriate way.
Where Do We Find Spiritual Solace?-Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui
Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui on where to find spiritual retreat amidst the chaos of our busy daily lives. Excerpt from "Inner Dimensions of the Qur'an", a series where he examines several selections from the Qur'an, reflecting on how they play a crucial role in our understanding of the process of self-purification.
Modesty and Parenting in the Age of the "Selfie"
I have three young boys whom I love dearly —all loud, all convinced they are the center of the universe, and all wanting to run around naked if I let them. I never really thought much about modesty as it related to raising children until I had them, and I have come to realize how tightly interwoven it is with other virtues like honesty and kindness that we place in such high regard. I doubt anyone would argue that modesty is a fundamental aspect of being Muslim. Yet, surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly) our focus is almost always on the outward manifestation of modesty, especially as it applies to women. Somehow, we've taken something beautiful, deep and multi-dimensional and made it flat and superficial. Modesty is (or should be) gender neutral and any talk of modesty, therefore, must begin with the heart, not the hemline. At the heart’s core lie virtues of kindness, respect and love for our fellow man.