A scholar of Islam explains how Muslim religious leaders, starting around the year 1050, worked with political rulers to challenge what they considered to be sacrilegious influence on society.
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Articles on Prophet Muhammad
Displaying 1 - 20 of 29 articles
Day 3 of our Understanding Islam series. Many Muslims belong to one of two sects of Islam, which agree on most of the fundamentals of Islam but vary in others.
Deobandi Islam, the religious school that the Taliban draw their ideology from, was set up in 19th century India to educate Muslim youth.
There are many different understandings of shariah law in the Muslim world – the Taliban’s is a particularly hard-line one that is unlikely to change radically.
The Islamic New Year marks the first day of Muharram, a sacred month of prayer and annual reflection.
Sharia is often portrayed as being brutal and barbaric. However, in many parts of the world, women are using Sharia to stop oppressive practices.
The Masjid al-Aqsa of Jerusalem is linked in the Quran to the story of the night journey of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and has deep religious meaning for Muslims across the world.
Student protesters in Turkey recently used this mythical figure to express their queer identity. An art historian explains the significance.
Visual depiction of Prophet Muhammad is a sensitive issue for many Muslims. Islamic literature shows how Muslims used textual imagery to give a vivid picture of the prophet.
The French satirical magazine republished the controversial caricatures of Prophet Muhammad. An expert says satire has often been a subject of condemnation.
In reconverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque, Turkish officials have emphasized veiling of Christian icons to create a Muslim prayer space. Experts explain why the veiling is in fact a Byzantine practice.
Trump recently warned Iran that the US could target its cultural sites. Many of Iran’s cultural sites carry deep religious meaning for a global Shii community and such a threat risks alienating them.
The Islamic State has appointed yet another ‘caliph’ after the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. What is the idea behind the caliphate?
For Muslims, Ashura marks the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammed’s grandson Hussain.
Muslims throughout the world will celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a celebration at the end of Ramadan. Here’s an introduction to this important feast and its partner, Eid al-Adha.
Some Islamic nations, including Brunei, have harsh punishments under Sharia. In pre-modern times, Sharia was rarely used as criminal law, and standard of proof for any prosecution was very high.
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam – acts that denote the obligations of living a good Muslim life.
Last Friday, Muslims were killed while praying at two mosques in New Zealand. For Muslims, Friday is the day of gathering, the most important prayer day of the week.
Trump recently tweeted about prayer rugs being left along the border. Many may not know the role and history of Muslim prayer rugs and why they are not likely to be left behind.
Hijab is not simply about religion – women wear it for a variety of reasons.
Top contributors
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Journalist-fellow, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, Fellow of the Fritz-Thyssen-Foundation, University of Southern California
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Assistant Professor of Religion, California Lutheran University
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Professor of Islamic Art, University of Michigan
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Jean Monnet Fellow (European University Institute) & Reader in History, Edge Hill University
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Philip S. Bernstein Professor of Jewish Studies, University of Rochester
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Research Fellow, Cambridge Muslim College & Teaching Fellow, SOAS, University of London
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Co-Director & Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications, The Institute of Ismaili Studies
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Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations, Indiana University
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Distinguished Professor of Philosophy of Education, Stellenbosch University
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Professor of Philosophy of Education, Stellenbosch University
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Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University
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Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University
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Professor in the History of Art Islamic Art and Architecture, Yale University
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Professor of English and Religious Studies, Michigan State University
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Assistant Professor of Sociology, UMass Amherst
