Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"Seen from the outside, feuds between Sunnis, who make up roughly 80% of the world’s Muslims, and the Shia minority (most of the rest), remain savage and are, in some ways, worsening." One reason may be the West pulling out of Iraq
"Khamenei, Jannati, and other fundamentalist clergymen realize as well as Ahmadinejad that the appeal of Islamist ideology is waning among Iran’s masses. The clergy senses that its loss of political authority may be close at hand"
Interview with human rights lawyer Sadakat Kadri, on origins and interpretation of Shari'a law. Widely misunderstood, by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Shia approach more flexible than Sunni. Iran even finances sex change operations
Saudi school textbooks became a subject of international interest after 9/11. The education ministry promised reform. But schoolchildren are still instructed not to greet infidels and to beware the West's threat to Islam
"It is hard to think of any other field of history so currently riven by disagreement as is that of early Islam." Holland explores why there is so little consensus amongst scholars about the original form and audience of the Quran
The headline perhaps promises more than this somewhat sympathetic article delivers. But it's still worth reading if you're interested in Egypt, for the interview with Hassan Malek, Muslim Brotherhood millionaire
Islamists rising to the top in the Arab world speak of freedom, equality, democratic values. At the same time, they insist Islam is the basis for these freedoms. Does this allow for genuine religious freedom? Evidence suggests not
"The pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj, is the supreme expression of global Islam. This year more than 2.5 million Muslims will undertake the journey." By 2030, that number is expected to have grown to 20 million. Here's what it means
"The North Indian city of Badaun is barely known beyond the subcontinent, but among the Muslims of India it has a great reputation. Seven ancient Islamic shrines encircle the town; hey are said to facilitate the exorcism of jinns"
Mead uses Saudi cleric's intervention as kicking-off point for discussion of interfaith dialogue. What looks like maturity and tolerance to a Christian can appear as decadence and senescence to a Muslim
Exhibition dedicated to Muslim pilgrimage is put on with Saudi help. Scholarly questions are ignored in order to accommodate Saudi and Muslim sensitivities. Is this a price worth paying, if there's a wider societal benefit?
Excellent piece in which Egyptian author denounces aggressive, superficial Islamic piety. Policemen insist on sacred right to grow beards, yet torture and abuse detainees. Hospital staff abandon patients in intensive care to pray
