I realize it might sound strange, but I worry a great deal about the ultimate fate of those that I love, and even those I do not know. Not for some selfish reason of wanting to spend my afterlife with them, but so that when they reach the end of their lives, they are not […]
Does Religion Make People Moral?
I wanted to share with you some great ideas written by one of my favorite authors, Mustafa Akyol: ‘Religion can work in two fundamentally different ways: It can be a source of self-education, or it can be a source of self-glorification. Self-education can make people more moral, while self-glorification can make them considerably less moral.’ […]
Muslims and Meditation
This is an interesting question I received from one of my students a few years ago. I am sharing this with you because I felt you may find it beneficial and thoughtful. . . “Do you have any books to recommend? I’ve been reading through Muhammad: A Prophet for our Time by Karen Armstrong. Also, […]
A Prayer for the Newlyweds
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was once asked, “What is more important than prayer?” He replied, “The spirit of prayer.” He was asked what is more important than fasting – he replied, “The spirit of fasting.” For each question concerning an Islamic practice the answer was the same – the spirit that animates the […]
Reading Aslan Armstrong and Campbell
What are your thoughts on religious scholars or philosophers like Karen Armstrong who approach Islam from the historical and cultural point of view, or Alain de Botton who said that all religion are man-made? To illustrate some examples, Karen Armstrong argues that when the Prophet (PBUH) commanded Muslims to switch from praying towards Jerusalem to […]
