Imam Zaid Shakir resides in the Bay Area of California with his family, and serves as a scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute where he now teaches regular courses on Arabic, Islamic Law, History, and Islamic Spirituality.
Imam Zaid is amongst the most highly respected and influential Muslim scholar in the West. He is widely regarded as an articulate voice on Islam and African-American issues and as a visionary leader in the emergence of an Islamic community and tradition that is indigenous to America.
We are living in a world where there could obviously be more peace. As Muslims, we realize this fact more than most people, as the peace of many of our brothers and sisters in various parts of the globe has been tragically disrupted –in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and other locales. Similarly, we are living in a world where there could be more justice. We read almost daily of assassinations in various parts of the world, where terrorist groups, military forces or intelligence... Read Full Story
We are living in a world where there could obviously be more peace. As Muslims, we realize this fact more than most people, as the peace of many of our brothers and sisters in various parts of the globe has been tragically disrupted –in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and other locales. Similarly, we are living in a world where there could be more justice. We read almost daily of assassinations in various parts of the world, where terrorist groups, military forces or intelligence... Read Full Story
In my article, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama, and the Fate of America, I mentioned that one of the things viewed as unacceptable to the political mainstream in this country is “a fair and just solution to the problem of meaningful Palestinian statehood.” With his slavish remarks at the recent AIPAC conference, Senator Barack Obama, issued an uncritical endorsement of the program of the most right wing elements of the Zionist movement, and suggested, at least through his words... Read Full Story
In my article, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama, and the Fate of America, I mentioned that one of the things viewed as unacceptable to the political mainstream in this country is “a fair and just solution to the problem of meaningful Palestinian statehood.” With his slavish remarks at the recent AIPAC conference, Senator Barack Obama, issued an uncritical endorsement of the program of the most right wing elements of the Zionist movement, and suggested, at least through his words... Read Full Story
By Richelene Mitchell, Foreword by Imam Zaid Shakir
It was the year 1973; the Vietnam War was officially over and Watergate was to begin. Pink Floyd’s, Dark Side of the Moon, was the coveted album of the year, reggae music was launched and bell-bottoms were all the rage.
Dear Self: A Year in the Life of a Welfare Mother, chronicles the journal of a young African American mother struggling to raise her seven children amidst the crushing poverty of housing projects, impassive public policy... Read Full Story
Imam Shafi’i is related to have said: “Never do I debate a man with a desire to hear him err in his speech, or to expose the flaws in his argument, and thus vanquish him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently supplicate, ‘O Lord, help him so that truth may manifest itself in his heart and on his tongue. If it be that the truth is on my side, may he follow me; and if the truth be on his side, may I follow him.’ “
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One of the skeptics came to Imam al-Shafi’i, May God have mercy on him and asked, “What is your proof for the existence of God?” The Imam replied, “The Mulberry leaf has a single taste, a single color, a single fragrance and a single shape. However, when the silk worm eats it she produces silk. When the bee eats it he produces honey. When the ewe eats it she becomes plump and her milk becomes abundant. When the gazelle eats it it nourishes him and mixes with his blood producing musk. Who is... Read Full Story
The following poem is by a friend of mine, Imran Sabir, of Glasgow, Scotland. He shared it with me during my recent visit there. I am sure you will be moved by it as I was. I will let him tell his own story.
Biographical Information
I am 31 years of age. I have multiple disabilities caused by a rare genetic condition. To my knowledge there are only five individuals with this condition in the UK. Records show that I am the eldest of these and the most severely affected. The condition... Read Full Story
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
فبما رحمة من الله لنت لهم و لو كنت فظا غليظ القلب لانفضوا من
حولك فاعف عنهم و استغفر لهم و شاورهم في الأمر فإذا عزمت
فتوكل على الله إن الله يحب المتوكلين القرآن ٣:١٥٩
Owing to Mercy from God, you were gentle in dealing with them [your companions]. Were you harsh [and crude], hard of heart; they would have fled from you. Therefore, pardon their abuses, seek [God’s] forgiveness for them, and consult them in the affair. Once you have resolved on a course of... Read Full Story
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
فبما رحمة من الله لنت لهم و لو كنت فظا غليظ القلب لانفضوا من
حولك فاعف عنهم و استغفر لهم و شاورهم في الأمر فإذا عزمت
فتوكل على الله إن الله يحب المتوكلين القرآن ٣:١٥٩
Owing to Mercy from God, you were gentle in dealing with them [your companions]. Were you harsh [and crude], hard of heart; they would have fled from you. Therefore, pardon their abuses, seek [God’s] forgiveness for them, and consult them in the affair. Once you have resolved on a course of... Read Full Story
