The Importance of Grammar, and Verse 33:33

I think we've all experienced the frustration of knowing what we mean and feel but lacking the words needed to explain ourselves. Sometimes it's a result of too much depth and complexity in our own minds for us to organize, and especially if we are particularly disorganized people. But in some cases, it is because …

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Beauty, Islamic Feminism, and Choice

(Cross-posted; originally written for a guest post at The Beheld.)Muslim feminism and beauty: "The timeless fight for choice." (image via)"We are not reformists. We are revivalists," writes Nahida of The Fatal Feminist. The "we" she refers to are Muslim feminists, and Nahida's blog is a treasure chest of Islamic feminist thought. Whether she's writing about …

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Interfaith Relations: Erasure

Because I'm a religious minority, it is always surprising and pleasant when there is some sort of friendly acknowledgement of my existence in everyday life, outside of depressing news stories. Receiving a Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Karim or simply "Happy Ramadan" from distant acquaintances and classmates when I've disclosed I'm on my way to break …

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