Imam Zaid Shakir’s response to Front Page Magazine’s personal attack

Imam Zaid Shakir, may Allah bless him with the best in all realities and protect him, has issued the following statement:

Although I do not expect propaganda organs like Front Page Magazine or Muslims Against the Sharia to be interested in the truth, I would expect that you would do a minimum amount of fact-checking. Contrary to what you print in your story “Horowitz Speech on Radical Islam Has Repercussions at Northwestern”, I was not a co-founder of Masjid Al-Islam in Oakland, California, nor have I ever been affiliated with that mosque. I was a co-founder of Masjid Al-Islam in New Haven, Connecticut. Our mosque was founded to serve, in the words of our motto as “a moral voice in the community.” The mosque has been and continues to be a source of spiritual guidance and social and economic services for a largely poor and an underserved inner-city community. A correction on your part, while not anticipated, would be appreciated.

— Imam Zaid Shakir

This statement is in response to Horowitz Speech on Radical Islam Has Repercussions at Northwestern published by FrontPage Magazine and and reposted by Muslims Against Sharia (where we originally found the story and shared it with our beloved Imam)

We humbly request all students and friends of Imam Zaid to link to this announcement (on your blogs, websites, social networks, etc.) to spread the word about this issue.

http://islamcrunch.com/archives/imam-zaid-shakirs-response-to-front-page-magazines-personal-attack/

Filed under: Uncategorized , imam zaid shakir

Fasting During Rajab

Historically, one of the virtuous religious practices of Muslims is voluntary fasting during the month of Rajab. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of Muslims that consider this practice a blameworthy innovation. The following discussion, taken from Lata’if al Ma’rif fi ma li Mawasim al-‘Amm min al-Wadha’if (The Subtleties of Knowledge Concerning the Religious Duties Associated with Each Month of the Year), by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, helps to shed light on this increasingly contentious issue.

Fasting During Rajab

Filed under: Uncategorized , advice, fasting, imam zaid shakir, rajab, spirituality, tasawwuf

Prayer: The Essence of Worship

In Islam, prayer is a fundamental aspect of the believer’s religious life. The Prophet Muhammad, peace upon him, mentioned in this regard, “Prayer is the essence of worship.”

Prayer lies at the heart of the believer’s relationship with God. It is viewed as an acknowledgement of God’s divinity (ilahiyya), and His mastery over His creation (rububiyya), in the sense that He has the ability to answer His servants.

In Islam, prayer assumes four basic forms: the formulaic prayer (Salat)(Du’a); supplication (Dhikr); and communion (Munajat).

Prayer: The Essence of Worship

Filed under: Uncategorized , imam zaid shakir, prayer, salat