Earth Day was established in 1970 to raise awareness about the environment. Islam however, did more than that; it provided clear directives for action, as early as the seventh century. The Quran is filled with ayats and the Sunnah is filled with actions, on how to be stewards of the Earth.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “the Earth is a Mosque.” You can pray anywhere. The entire planet is meant to be a place for worship of its Creator. You can kneel down in awe and gratitude of Allah on grass, on sand, on a mountain, in a cornfield. Therefore, the planet and its people deserve to be protected.

To demonstrate the connection between Islam and the environment, let’s talk about waste, water, watts, and food. These four topics are especially important because civilizations have been built and destroyed on their ability or inability to manage them. Think about it - a society that cannot remove its trash, preserve its water, create energy, and distribute food - will not flourish. As Muslim-Americans who live in this country, we create waste, drink water, use energy, and eat food. We need to start thinking responsibly about our actions and how they impact the environment. Knowing what our Deen says about being Green is the perfect place to start.

Yesterday in the New York Times, there was yet another article about the morphing relationship between the White House and American Muslims. After President Obama gave his famous June 2009 speech in Cairo about improving relations with the Muslim world, there were myriad articles and media commentaries discussing the way this new administration would handle “the Muslims.”Read More

Using his words as dawah, Boonaa Mohammed, is a driven poet with unique name and a clear message. A gifted story-teller, twenty-two year old Mohammed entertains as he teaches and has been dubbed the, “voice of a generation.” His work was most recently published in the anthology, Pieces to Pieces: Stories About Fitting into Canada, and he just released an album of poetry called Stranger to this World. A first generation Canadian, Mohammed talks about the discrimination he faced growing up, his fascination with television and film, and the need to unplug and find inner taqwa. Read More

Cancun, Miami, San Diego...Baghdad? Well, even if you’re not planning on going there for Spring Break, Iraq made an important step in becoming at least a viable destination for world travelers when Etihad Airways announced the commencement of flights between Abu Dhabi and Baghdad beginning on April 26th.Read More

At times, a simple trip to the mall or a local cafe in the Middle East, may make you feel like you’ve exited reality and entered ‘The Twilight Zone’. Some women with abnormally large hijab-covered heads shop, mix and mingle like nothing is wrong with the picture. Could it be that these diminutive divas have super-human intelligence or extra large super brains? Quite the contrary! Actually, the strange hijab beauty trend has been sweeping the Middle East by storm the last couple of years. And here’s why.

Only eighteen years old, Ainee Fatima, is a force to be reckoned with on the Chicago spoken word scene. This young firecracker is a two-time winner of Chicago Public Radio’s Louder Than a Bomb contest. Her poems speak openly and eloquently about topics all young Muslims go through growing up, yet few Imams know how to address - How do you fall in love Islamically? How do you keep your iman when the boy next-door’s lips are just so kissable? Where do your parents’ cultural tradition end and your identity begin? And why can’t parents just understand...?! In her own words, Fatima talks about her personal struggles with faith and tradition, understanding parents, and her hopes for her writing.Read More

For far too long, America has been lauded as the ‘fat’ capital of the world. We’ve all seen the Oprah segments on fat Americans and ways that they are trying to get healthy. However, there is a country that is just as fat as America and a real contender for wrestling away the ‘large and in charge’ crown from Americans - Kuwait. Read More

Up until very recently, I worked part-time as a waitress in a lovely little restaurant in Manhattan. There is no better way to observe New Yorkers in their natural habitat than as their waitress - a person most people don’t pay much attention to. I could go on for hours telling stories about the people I have met - some of them now infamous characters to my friends and family whom I have regaled with the daily trials and tribulations of the food service industry. Read More

Since we already know that Muslims were green before it was cool, it’s nice to learn that we are still continuing the tradition of being environmentally friendly. Young Muslims everywhere are participating in the worldwide movement to save the planet. Some do their part by recycling, some work together to educate their communities about the environment and others have launched environmentally-friendly businesses inspired by their faith. One Muslim couple in particular has combined environmental consciousness with sleek, modern design to create contemporary Islamic art and a company with a cause.

Last week, everyone in the world survived April Fool’s Day with their dignity intact, except Jordan. A Jordanian newspaper ran a front page story claiming that space aliens had landed in the city of Jafr, causing residents to flood the streets with panic, lock up their children, and above all, lose their minds. It’s no doubt hilarious and reminiscent of H.G. Well’s reading of War of the Worlds over the radio back in 1938. The jokesters involved with the hoax apologized for the inconveniences caused as they obviously only meant to entertain people.