Westerners have long been fascinated with the Hajj, writing memoirs on their journey to Mecca and describing how they managed to enter the space.[1] For many pilgrims, the Hajj represents an original and primordial state…
“Muslim minorities in the non-Muslim world will ultimately realize that their history has put them in a position somehow reminiscent of the Prophet’s Meccan period. Their isolation will purify and strengthen their belief. It will…
Discussions of the Islamic Mary or Maryam frequently engage the Qur’an, especially the chapter that is named after her (Surat Maryam). However, it is important to point out that Maryam exists throughout Islamic literature and…
Introduction I recently had the opportunity to attend the “Building BridgesSeminar” organized by Georgetown University and chaired by Daniel Madigan with the assistance of Professor David Marshall. The annual seminar started after 9/11 but has…
The word “fasting” (ṣawm) is used in the Qur’an to describe the ritual fast or the month of Ramadan. Scholars define fasting as “abstaining from food, drink and sexual activity” and frequently reference verse 2:183-185 as…
When I was speaking at the Jewish Museum of Berlin on the Story of Abraham’s/Ibrāhīm’s sacrifice in the Islamic tradition, a protestant minister on one of the panels stood up and passionately argued that Abraham/Ibrāhīm…
In the era of the Coronavirus, it would be prudent to look at other times of pandemics and how they impacted society and daily living. The so-called “Black Death” was one of the worst plagues…
As we approach the Winter holidays, it would be appropriate to discuss the common links between Christians and Muslims and especially the various figures that bring the traditions together. After 9/11, there was a strong…
This summer I had the opportunity to visit the library at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, or to cite its better known acronym, ISTAC, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[1] The ISTAC building stands…
The story of the intended sacrifice is an integral part of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, or the “Abrahamic faiths.”[1] For Jews, the story lays the basis for “an exclusive covenantal relationship with God.”[2] Abraham’s intended…