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Wednesday’s Religion News Roundup: Ramadan ending * Holy warrior * Biblical dinosaurs | Religion News Service. Hussein Rashid, a professor at Hofstra University, disses those who say a Ramadan observance called Laylat ul-Qadr, which translates as the “Night of Power” or the “Night of Destiny,” may be the reason for the closure of U.S. embassies in Africa and the Middle East.

How New York’s Muslims Are Responding To Manhattan Truck Attack : NPR. NPR’s Ari Shapiro speaks to Hussein Rashid, a professor in the religion department at Columbia University and a native New Yorker, about how the Muslim community in New York is reacting to Tuesday’s terrorist attack.

Ben Carson’s Islamophobia Isn’t Just Hateful. It Doesn’t Make Any Sense. | ThinkProgress. Carson is seemingly unaware as to the actual purpose of taqiya. According to Hussein Rashid, a professor of religious studies at Hofstra University who sits on the editorial board of the Islamic Monthly, the practice does allow Muslims leeway to obscure their beliefs — but only when faced with the threat of persecution or death.