“Violence Leaves Young Iraqis Doubting Clerics” March 18, 2008
Posted by TS in us politics, war on terror.comments closed
I cannot adequately express my frustration with articles like this.
Looking at the Opposite Sex January 9, 2008
Posted by TS in hijab, women.comments closed
As has been mentioned in other posts, sexual modesty is a very important value in Islam. One aspect of this modesty is called “lowering the gaze.” Men are not supposed to gawk at woman and vice versa. Rather, when one’s eyes fall upon a member of the opposite sex, one must lower the eyes away from the object of their desire. Not doing so is a sin—the adultery of the eyes. (more…)
“The Sleeper Cell” January 6, 2008
Posted by TS in civil rights, humor.comments closed
Nice. (more…)
Finally, Some Good News December 14, 2007
Posted by TS in Judaism, thinking to myself.comments closed
This story got a good amount of press. A Muslim young-adult defends a Jewish subway passenger as he is attacked by anti-Semites. (more…)
Relationship Reminder for Couples #1 November 14, 2007
Posted by TS in thinking to myself, women.1 comment so far
So, I happen to know a lot about relationships. Here is the first in a continuing series of relationship reminders for those of you who are Muslim, non-Muslim, married, or unmarried. (more…)
When Hope is a Bad Thing October 16, 2007
Posted by TS in thinking to myself.comments closed
In the course of our lives, there are many points where the only thing we’re going on is hope. Sometimes it’s the only thing keeping us alive. It’s the only thing allowing us to get up out of bed in the morning (for those of us fortunate enough to have beds). There are many ways that hope, in this way, is something to be desired. But there are some situations where having hope is just counter-effective and, in the end, detrimental to one’s well-being. (more…)
Cheney ‘92 on Invading Iraq September 28, 2007
Posted by TS in humor, us politics, war on terror.comments closed
It doesn’t get any better than this… (more…)
9-11: Muslims Become Public Enemy #1 September 11, 2007
Posted by TS in 9-11, civil rights, us politics, war on terror.comments closed
I remember exactly where I was when I heard about planes hitting buildings in New York and Washington DC. As I was in a major American city at the time, I was terrified and worried that the building I was in would also fall prey to an incoming airplane. It was only later that we found out that this was a coordinated terrorist plot aimed at only choice buildings in NYC and the nation’s capital, and thus our initial terror — the instinctual terror that accompanies fear for one’s survival — subsided. But other terrors were to take its place. (more…)
Badmouthing Islam on Facebook, etc. September 11, 2007
Posted by TS in atheism, civil rights.comments closed
The NYT reports on Facebook groups that “talk smack” about Islam as well as the slew of reactionary groups demanding that these Islam-bashing groups be shutdown. As a Muslim — and a fundamentalist Muslim at that — it might seem strange that I do not share the visceral reaction to such groups as others do. Let me explain. (more…)
Do Christians and Atheists Go to Heaven? (Part 2) September 8, 2007
Posted by TS in humanism, morality, orthodoxy vs. modernity.comments closed
In Part 1 of this series, I confronted the question of heavenly reward: can it be reserved exclusively for the adherents of one religion? I then pointed out that the underlying issue of this question is whether or not we can judge a person as “good” or “bad” based on solely his or her beliefs. I concluded that yes we can and, as a matter of fact, everyone does. For example, consider a hardcore Neo-Nazi living in America today. He is as Nazi as they come, but this individual has never hurt anyone and doesn’t plan to nor does he engage in any other illegal activity. In our immediate assessment, would we consider this person as a fundamentally good or bad person? (more…)
