Currently Browsing: Notes
notes
Ferguson, Missouri: Why Race Still Matters
by Imam Zaid Shakir
In his Time Magazine essay discussing the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Rand Paul focuses on the militarizing of our police. He also mentions the malicious role that race plays in our law enforcement and criminal justice systems, a courageous stance for a white American politician. Paul, however,…
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Israel is Not Like “Them”
by Imam Zaid Shakir
“And that’s the difference between us and our neighbors,” he continued. “They consider murderers to be heroes. They name public squares after them. We don’t. We condemn them and we put them on trial and we’ll put them in prison.” Binyamin Netanyahu Reacting to the arrest of the Israeli colonizers…
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Muslims Fear Oakland Surveillance Center Will Target Them Unfairly
by Imam Zaid Shakir
Imam Zaid Shakir and opponents of a new surveillance center in Oakland are making their voices heard, including Muslims who fear they are being unfairly targeted. By Christin Ayers,
CBS San Francisco.
For more info: http://cbsloc.al/1cIHYGz
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Rajab: Sow The Seeds
by Imam Zaid Shakir
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali mentions in Lata’if al-Ma’arif: The month of Rajab is the key to the months of goodness and blessings that follow it. Abu Bakr b. al-Warraq al-Balkhi said: “Rajab is the month to sow the seeds; Sha’ban is the month to irrigate the crop; and Ramadan is the…
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Let The Healing Begin
by Imam Zaid Shakir
H-E-A-L to heal: to make sound or whole (heal a wound); to restore to health; to cause an undesirable condition to be overcome; to mend; to patch up (a breach or division); to restore to original purity or integrity. H is for Hearts In the aftermath of the tragic events…
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Ramsey Clark at Zaytuna: No Easy Answers
by Imam Zaid Shakir
On March 6, 2013 Zaytuna College hosted the former United States Attorney General, Ramsey Clark. Clark, now 86 years old, brings a wealth of experience from both inside and outside of government to his presentations, which was one of the reasons for his invitation. Oftentimes, we are tempted to limit…
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Reflections on Black History Month
by Imam Zaid Shakir
Black History Month should be of interest to every Muslim, especially in America. It is estimated that upwards to 20% of the Africans enslaved in the Americas were Muslim. [1] In some areas, such as the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia, and parts of Virginia, the percentages of Muslims in…
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Challenging Selfishness
by Imam Zaid Shakir
In our world of increasing need the answer has to be found in relentless giving despite cultural discourse calling for an end to altruism. “Those who adopted the abode and faith before them love those who migrated to them, and they find no need in their souls for…
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The Virtues of The Day of Arafat: Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
by Imam Zaid Shakir
The following excerpt is from “Lata’if al-Ma’arif” by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali concerning the virtue and some of the actions to be undertaken on the Day of Arafa (pp. 487-495) I wanted to get this out today for the benefit of the believers so I have not taken the time to…
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Ramadan and Charity: Healing for the Land
by Imam Zaid Shakir
Ill Fares the land, to hast’ning ill a prey; Where wealth accumulates, and men decay. Oliver Goldsmith British-Irish author (1730 - 1774) In his final book, Ill Fares the Land, Tony Judt laments the materialism and selfishness he saw destroying the very fabric of modern society. Were…
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Will You Marry My Daughter?
by Imam Zaid Shakir
She taught Ella and Billie Holliday how to sing. She made Miles Davis cool and taught Duke how to swing. She gave Malcolm his X and made Martin a king. Without her Michael Jordan wouldn’t have six rings! Will you marry my daughter? She gave Nat Turner…
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The Beauty of Islam
by Imam Zaid Shakir
Death and destruction tend to be associated with Muslims, but the Prophet reminded, “God is Beautiful and He likes beauty.” For many people, including some Muslims, it has become difficult to associate Islam with beauty. The popular view of Islam is based largely on images conveyed by the mass media,…
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The Significance of Malcolm X for American Muslim Youth
by Imam Zaid Shakir
Text of Imam Zaid’s Commencement Speech At Brighter Horizons Academy, Dallas, Texas (slightly edited for Publication) You are blessed to have your graduation occur on a memorable day that you should never forget. Today is May 19th. It is the date of your graduation and it is Malcolm X’s birthday.…
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War Chronicle / Peace Plea
by Imam Zaid Shakir
War Chronicle How many babies will you kill? Before you realize, each time you kill an innocent that it’s your heart that dies. A way of life that’s steeped in blood from sea to shining sea. murder behind the veil of lies, proclaimed as…
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The French Massacre: A Descent Into the Abyss
by Imam Zaid Shakir
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. Friedrich Nietzsche In the aftermath of the murderous spree in France, allegedly committed by a French “Jihadi,” Mohammed Merah, it should be clear to any observer that the so-called Jihad movement will never bring any good to…
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Syria and the Vagaries of Political Violence
by Imam Zaid Shakir
As Syria hurtles towards destruction, with the ongoing bombardment of Homs and the escalating assault on Hama, Dar’a, Idlib and many other Syrian cities and towns by a regime consumed by hubris, we can see clearly how political violence can lead to unexpected outcomes. At the beginning of the now…
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