Identity

Rihanna Apologizes for Using Hadith in Lingerie Show

UPDATE: After the publication of this story this morning Rihanna issued the following statement to her Instagram: As someone who listens to Rihanna’s music and admires her, I am in complete awe right now.  Rihanna used a song that contains a narration of an Islamic Hadith during her recent fashion show. Many people took to…

Issues

Here’s How 9/11 Continues to Impact Muslims, 19 Years Later

Nineteen years ago today, one of the most formative events in modern American identity took place: 9/11, a tragedy which you no doubt are aware of. The impact of 9/11 on the collective consciousness of Americans was huge. Today is the nineteenth anniversary of 9/11, and it’s still being memorialized today. Besides the devastating toll…

Videos

Did Islam Influence the Musical Genre Known as the Blues?

What do Islam and the song genre known as “the blues” have in common? Maybe more than you thought, actually. Watch this video to find out how Islam — and of course, Black Muslims — influenced the blues as we know it today. As the world begins to reckon with its whitewashing of history and…

Faith

Who Were Some of the Black Companions of the Prophet?

Black Muslims have been pivotal in the spread of Islam, both in past and present days. Yet, the knowledge of the everyday Muslim regarding Black history and Islam rarely stretches beyond Bilal ibn Rabah (a key figure in the early age of Islam). The following individuals, present during Islam’s earliest days, were key to the…

Videos

Why We Need to Learn the Difference Between Culture and Religion

In this TED talk, Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol discusses how certain cultural traditions are sometimes confused for being part of Islam, when they have no Islamic basis. Check it out above, and let us know what you think. Why do you think it’s important to learn to differentiate between culture and religion?

Faith

This Ramadan, I Prayed for the First Time in Two Years

Author’s note: This personal essay is based on my own experiences. This is not me preaching from a soapbox. Instead, this is my attempt to muddle through some incredibly complex feelings and experiences. Perhaps along the way, I’ll be able to offer a relatable moment to anyone who may share my experiences. Three days ago,…

MG Anonymous

Why I’ve Been Praying in My Boyfriend’s Bedroom

As my boyfriend went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready for the night, I quickly pulled a hoodie over my bare head and began to pray as fast as I could. With each prostration, I found myself begging for forgiveness. I hated the days he would come back faster than I…

Lifestyle

Are Science and Religion Actually Not as at Odds As We Think?

In today’s world, one of the most debated topics is the relationship between science and religion, which often clash. For example, the popular question of natural evolution versus guided evolution has been hotly debated for centuries. Yet, science and religion can come together, as is taught in Islam. On March 7th, I had the opportunity…

Faith

A Muslim Girl’s Plea for Self-Care of the Soul

It this poetic musing, Muslim Girl writer Jessica Daqamsseh reflects upon self-care for the soul during these anxious times. She asks the vital question, “We talk so much about self-care in terms of rest, spa days, eating right, and exercise — but how do we nourish our souls?” What do you do when the world…

Faith

What Does the Quran Say About Mental Health?

This wonderful series, courtesy of Sheikh Ibrahim Hindy and Naseeha, a toll-free mental health hotline and digital space for young Muslims, highlights the sensitivity with which the Quran approaches mental health. We were not created as angels, but as entities with free will, and as such, we feel and emote deeply. Shouldn’t we get to…