Abdul Malik Mujahid

Our society is moving toward greater polarization, and more needs to be done to mediate anger and hate in our country. The bloodshed is a stark reminder that we need mercy more than ever as hate, anger, and intolerance rise around the world.

Sharia is an Arabic word commonly translated as Islamic law. It is a dynamic body of guidelines for Muslims on issues as diverse as food and diet to business transactions and marriage. Sharia is the Muslim universe of ideals.

I used to be asked this question in Pakistan as well: are you Pakistani first or Muslim first? Yet, it has always made me uncomfortable, it forces you to feel that the two: religious and national identity, are somehow mutually exclusive.

Profiling is here to stay. While fighting it is a noble cause, learning to deal with it is a daily requirement. Here are some tips to keep in mind to better prepare for "traveling while Muslim".

Sharia is not a word Muslims use on a daily basis in their lives. Actually, until the recent Sharia debate, most Muslim Americans may not have used this term more than a couple of times in their lives.

Everyone else is talking about Sharia. It’s about time we did! Thar is why we introduced Shariah 101, a project to articulate Muslim American perspectives on Sharia. It will raise awareness about Sharia or Islamic law, in the American context. 

She was also a reformer. She did not like associating anyone with God. When she refused to prostrate (sajdah) to the grave of a family elder as women in that village used to do, she was called a “wahhabi.” But this hanafi woman did not budge.