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Why the Charlie Hebdo attack is not about images or free speech (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service. Regarding images: Muhammad is a powerful symbol for Muslims. The Quran calls him a “beautiful role model,” and he is considered to be the most perfect Muslim. It is generally accepted by Muslims that images of Muhammad, or any other person, do not appear in mosques. However, this ban does not extend outside the mosque. Various Muslim cultures show a comfort with painting and figural representation. Images of Muhammad, his family, prophets and other holy figures exist. They are on display in museums…

Should You Social Media Fast During Ramadan?. Islamic scholar Hussein Rashid, on the other hand, has been going the exact opposite route when it comes to the holy month and social media since 2009. Over the last three Ramadans, Rashid estimated that he has tweeted between 35 and 40 percent of the Quran to his 3,000 followers.  “I can definitely see the argument that you want to abstain from things that engage you too much, that are a distraction from your spiritual life,” Rashid said. “I guess my approach is that these are things that are part of my daily…

Watch This Animated Tale of ‘The Secret History of Muslims in the U.S.’ | Colorlines. Islamophobic fearmongering about Muslims in the United States ignores the ways they have influenced the country from its inception. Dr. Hussein Rashid, a professor of religion at Barnard College, chronicles this history from 1492 to today in an animated short from The New York Times yesterday (December 17)