Ibn Khaldun: Judge, Scholar, and Diplomat Ibn Khaldun, the father of social sciences, was an eminent figure who hailed from northern Africa; he lived from 1332 to 1406 A.D. He was born in present-day Tunisia and traveled extensively across North Africa, not to mention a stint in Granada, Spain. He [...]
By Zaid Shakir Black History Month should be of interest to every Muslim, especially in America. It is estimated that upwards to 20 percent of the Africans enslaved in the Americas were Muslim. In some areas, such as the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia, and parts of Virginia, the [...]
Timbuktu: Fact or Fiction? Timbuktu has long captured popular imagination as a legendary city. The fact that it actually exists still surprises some people who have merely pictured it as a mysterious or mythical place. In reality, Timbuktu became renowned for its riches and scholarship after it was permanently [...]
The historic city of Cairo The world was lately riveted by the events taking place in Cairo, Egypt. The unfolding revolution in Tahrir Square transcended ethnic and religious affiliations, inspiring people worldwide with the power of change. In fact, this historic city has undergone many upheavals over the centuries and [...]
Kairouan: A Center of Learning, Arts, and Sciences The change of government in Tunisia recently took everyone by surprise. All eyes turned to the capital, Tunis, when Ben Ali relinquished his power and fled the country, causing a ripple effect in the region. Here, we would like to highlight another [...]
By Amadou Shakur The Prophet Muhammad reminded the Muslim world, “We are a single community, distinct from others.” The distinction shapes the Muslim’s religious identity and underlines the nature of the Islamic ideal, whether the purity of the monotheistic concept, the uncompromising quest for morality, or the lifelong seeking of [...]
Ibn Battuta: Celebrated Traveler Ibn Battuta, a celebrated traveler, was born in Tangier, Morocco. He lived from 1304 to 1368/1369 and is renowned for his travelogue, Rihla, which simply means Travels. It recounts his many journeys throughout the Muslim world as well as far-flung regions like Russia, China and Constantinople. [...]
Saladin: Courageous and Brilliant Salahuddin Ayyubi, popularly known in the West as Saladin, was a courageous and brilliant Muslim leader during the 12th century. His firm foundation in the religion and its prime values, leading to his commitment to the Islamic cause, enabled him to accomplish great things. His [...]
By Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe Prince Among Slaves is a nationally broadcast documentary, which is now a part of a major humanities outreach project. The documentary is a production of Unity Productions Foundation (UPF) in association with Spark Media and Duke Media. It tells the amazing story of an [...]
For three hundred and fifty years, Muslim men, women, and children, victims of the general insecurity that the Atlantic slave trade and the politico-religious conflicts in West Africa fostered, were sold in the New World. They were among the very first Africans to be shipped, and among the very [...]
