2011 – Page 3 – islamicate

What’s So Threatening About All-American Muslim?

islamoyankeeDecember 13, 2011

My latest for Our Shared Future. What’s So Threatening About All-American Muslim?. What the show really is is a threat to the FFA. Here is a popular show that anyone can watch at any time, and it shows that Americans are Americans, regardless of their faith. It’s not very scary. The other option that makes the FFA’s case is to believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of people involved in the production of the show for TLC are complicit in a cover-up that millions of Americans who recognize their stories in the episodes are going along with.

Ayesha Mattu: Fighting for what’s Right | elan

islamoyankeeDecember 13, 2011

So happy to know Ayesha. Ayesha Mattu: Fighting for what’s Right | elan. Ayesha Mattu, 39, is not afraid to challenge the status quo. Her professional career focuses on creating safe spaces for oftentimes disenfranchised communities. Mattu has now co-edited a book called Love, InshAllah. She shares the stories of American Muslim women falling in love. We got a chance to speak with Ayesha.

Intra-faith

Slideshow: Ashura, the Unique Face of Shia Islam | Religion | FRONTLINE | PBS

islamoyankeeDecember 9, 2011

Slideshow: Ashura, the Unique Face of Shia Islam | Religion | FRONTLINE | PBS. The holy day of Ashura marks the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in a historic seventh century battle. The Battle of Karbala, as it’s known, cemented the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims that arose from a succession dispute after the prophet’s death. Every year around Ashura, the media is flooded with images of blood-soaked Shias self-flagellating. But Shias around the world — who make up between 10 to 13 percent of Muslims – observe the month in a myriad of ways.…

Music

NYC Event: @metmuseum Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals

islamoyankeeDecember 7, 2011

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals. This program features new music developed from an artistic collaboration supported by the Aga Khan Music Initiative. Inspired by visual images and literary descriptions of exuberant music-making in the Mughal courts, the Music Initiative brings together musicians from Afghanistan, India, and Tajikistan with the aim of merging their talents, traditions, and musical instruments to create new sounds.

Intra-faith

Imam Hussein (AS): “The Chief of the Youth of Paradise” « Simerg #Ashura

islamoyankeeDecember 5, 2011

Imam Hussein (AS): “The Chief of the Youth of Paradise” « Simerg. Imam Hussein’s memory and death is commemorated in particular with great religious fervour and intensity during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram, known as Ashura, which simply means tenth in the Arabic language. The 10th day marks the climax of the remembrance of Muharram.

Art

Muhammad – No. 72 – Mascot Mashup by Ian Cavalier – Translating famous characters into 8-bit art

islamoyankeeDecember 2, 2011

Click the link to see the artwork. It’s a shame that extremism becomes a vicious downward spiral. They are ugly, so they take beauty out of the world, then they seem beautiful because there is not true beauty, and they make themselves uglier. Muhammad – No. 72 – Mascot Mashup by Ian Cavalier – Translating famous characters into 8-bit art.

Art Video

Video: @MetMuseum and Why I like it

islamoyankeeDecember 2, 2011

The US State Dept. produced a video on the new “Islamic Art” galleries at the Met, and I make a brief appearance.

Inter-faith

Stephen Shashoua: Artists of the World, Unite

islamoyankeeNovember 30, 2011

Stephen Shashoua: Artists of the World, Unite. We need to demonstrate – in word and deed – how much social capital we can unlock when everyone contributes and communal boundaries are no longer an issue. I believe that to do this we need to create a culture that encourages collaboration and participation in the civic space, where all communities are encouraged to bring their own talents and perspectives to the table.

Books

My Endorsement of Love, Inshallah

islamoyankeeNovember 24, 2011

Reviews « Love, InshAllah. Love Inshallah is unbelievable in its audacity. Not all of our authors find love, and God and God’s Will are just as often felt by their absence as by their presence. The brutal honesty that these women portray is refreshing and frightening. Nearly every story reveals another aspect of the human condition, and makes you appreciate that even among people who share the same faith, love can mean something very different. Pre-order Love, InshAllah

Politics

The Power of Pop Culture

islamoyankeeNovember 22, 2011

The Power of Pop Culture. The following is a guest post from Dr. Hussein Rashid, a member of the Our Shared Future Advisory Board. Dr. Rashid took part in our recent panel discussion, “Across the Atlantic: Islam, the West and the Repercussions of 9/11.”