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Hijab

There is an op-ed written in a NY Urdu language paper (English translation) that deals with the issue of hijab. I’m looking for the Urdu version, but the English translation reminds me very much of what some of the early debate was like in NY in English. You would throw out a whole bunch of arguments and see what would stick. The arguments have become much more sophisticated and targeted, helped both by time and the easy accessibility of more academic material. I think this article is important, not because of what it says, but because of the language and…

Reading the Qur’an – part 1 – Interpretation

The Qur’an (also Quran, Koran) is the Muslim holy book, believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) – through the angel Jibra’il (Gabriel) – over the span of 23 years. The Arabic language of the time was a nascent language of literature, used mostly as a mnemonic guide in its written form; because of the close association of Semitic Languages (including Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac) the turn of Arabic into a literary language was not unprecedented. The script did not (and still does not) mark short vowels, punctuation, differentiate amongst different letters, and depending on the scribe,…

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…