Islamic Fiction: The Strange Case of Zakariya al-Qazwini

I’ll be honest, yesterday was the first time I had ever heard of Zakariya al-Qazwini. He is not one of the ‘big names’ in Islamic science and literature, and yet his contributions are immense. Like many of those who are credited as…

The Islamic Golden Age: The Biggest Hoax in History

Isn’t it an inspiring story? Once upon a time, the magical world of flying carpets and Bangal tigers and bedouin was experiencing something similar (but inferior) to the acme of all human thought: the Enlightenment.

Islam and Science: Personal Notes

Yesterday I had the privilige of giving a talk about ‘Islam and…

Tim’s: An Ancient Muslim Tradition

It’s a common refrain among Canadian Muslims, “Tim Horton’s is the second mosque,” yet few Muslims know just how true that is. Aside from the fact that coffee originated in Muslim lands, and that many of the key words about the brew come from Muslim culture, such as…

Alexander Webb and Our Viral Culture

Some of you may be familiar with the story of Alexander Webb, one of the first American converts to Islam, and surely the most well known convert in the 19th century.

The Moeen Centre: Compassion in Action

It is our duty both as Muslims and as Canadians to help those in need, and this principal is demonstrated exquisitely by the big hearts at the Moeen Centre in Scarborough, Ontario. Founded in 1996, the visionaries behind the centre strived for a full decade…

Tripping on Tropes: A Journey Toward Originality

There is a major criticism leveled at many ‘progressive,’ ‘liberal,’ or even simply artistically inclined Muslims that they are catering or even pandering to the West.

Light upon Light

Man has created wonderful machines to explore the World’s vast wonders and beautiful treasures. However, if not properly guided by the explorer, these machines may drift into the World’s darkest edges, the monstrous airspaces and deep seas, wiping away the explorer completely out of existence.

The Phalanx of Open Hearts: How to Stand Against a Thousand Foes

I suppose the first thing I should do, just to get it out of the way, is to tell you all what a phalanx is.

Canadian Muslims Gather For Peace

Muslims in many major cities in Canada will be gathering in the freezing January cold to support a…