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Dhu’l-Hijja

Oh people who have gone on Hajj, where are you? where are you? The Beloved is right here. Come back! Come back! Your Beloved is near and everywhere Confused in the desert, what are you in love with? If you see the face of the faceless Beloved then you are also the lord, the house and the Ka’aba. Ten times you have gone on that road of the famous house One time get on the roof of this house. That house is sublime, speak of its wonders Show a sign from the Lord of that house. What is a bouquet…

Muslim Woman Chaplain

The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine ran an article a couple of weeks ago about the army’s first potential female chaplain. Unfortunately I found the article somewhat frustrating with respect to the issues at stake in the US military. The author hints at things like ageism and sexism, but there’s a much stronger undercurrent of discrimination in the article that never gets explored. In addition, he only hints at the reaction of Muslims in the military, or outside it, to a female chaplain. Personally, I have no problem. I pray through Bibi Fatimah, the Prophet’s daughter, for special occasions, and recognize…

The Difference Between a Moslem and a Klingon

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, “what’s the difference between a Moslem/Muhammadan and a Klingon?” It’s not really. While in the popular imagination, I’m sure there is a great deal of similarity between the warlike, aggressive, territorial patriarchal Klingon culture and how Muslims are perceived, there really is more difference. Take for example the great warrior phrase associated with Klingons, “today is a good to die.” If you listen to one of the Sabri Brothers’ Qawwali albums, you’d know that Muslims actually believe “today is a good day to cry.” At least that’s how I’d translate the…