Saving yourself from HIV infection: Islam or Christianity?
By Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times December 2011 Human sexual desire may be insatiable, the more we indulge in it the stronger it grows, until […]
Author Archives
Zia H Shah
He is a physician practicing in Upstate New York. He is the Chief Editor of the Muslim Times, which has more than 43,000 followers in Twitter. He is also Chair of Religion and Science for the Muslim Sunrise, the oldest Muslim publication in North America. He has authored more than 400 articles on Islam, Christianity, Secularism and Religion & Science. Follow in Twitter: @The_MuslimTimes
Continuation of Ummati Prophethood in Islam According to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian
Presented by Zia H Shah MD Abstract Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908), the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, taught that no new law-bearing prophet can ever arise after Prophet Muhammad […]
Comparative Analysis of Sir Zafrulla Khan’s Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets vs Sir William Muir’s Life of Mohammad
Epigraph لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا The Messenger of God is an excellent model for those of you […]
The Bahá’í Faith: Origins, Teachings, and Global Context
Presented by Zia H Shah MD Abstract The Bahá’í Faith is a modern independent world religion originating in mid-19th-century Persia (Iran). It was founded by Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892), who is regarded […]
Literal vs. Metaphorical: Ibn ʿArabī on Jesus’s Second Coming
Presented by Zia H Shah MD Ibn ʿArabī accepts the traditional Islamic belief that Jesus (ʿĪsā) will literally return in the last days, and he does not treat the Second […]
Ibn ʿArabi on the Second Coming of Jesus (ʿĪsā)
Ibn ʿArabi’s Reverence for Jesus and Eschatological Expectations Muhyiddin Ibn ʿArabi (1165–1240) held Jesus in exceptional esteem, regarding him as a pivotal spiritual guide and walī (friend of God). In […]
Trends in Anxiety and Depression Prevalence (2005–2025)
Presented by Zia H Shah MD Introduction Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression have become increasingly recognized as major public health issues over the past two decades. Globally, the […]
How to “See” God: Ihsan, Transcendence, and Allah’s Attributes
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD God’s Transcendence: Beyond Physical Sight In Islam, God (Allah) is utterly transcendent and unlike anything in creation. The Qur’an declares, “There is […]
Shī‘a Sects and the Qur’an: Beliefs and Interpretive Traditions
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD Introduction The Qur’an holds a central place in all branches of Islam, including the diverse sects of Shī‘a Islam. Twelver (Ithnā ‘Asharī), […]
Video: An Atheist Surgeon Converts to Islam: “I Begged God to Save My Daughter!”
Epigraph When trouble befalls man he cries out to Us, whether lying on his side, sitting, or standing, but as soon as We relieve him of his trouble he goes […]
The Glorious Qur’an 4:82 – Overcoming Inner Conflicts through Divine Consistency
Epigraph أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا Abstract Qur’an 4:82 poses a profound challenge and invitation: “Will they not think about this Quran? […]
The Pre-Earthly Life of the Soul: Summary and Critical Analysis
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD Abstract Belief in a pre-conception existence of the human soul features prominently in classical Islamic thought. A recent lecture by Dr. Umar […]
Aisha Academy Empowering Muslim Women in Canada
Empowering Women. Enriching Communities. Shaping the Future. Aisha Academy of Canada invites women of all ages to embark on a transformative educational journey designed to nurture the mind, spirit, and […]
Allah’s Sustaining of Reality: A Commentary on Qur’an 35:41, Through Classical and Modern Lenses
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا Qur’an 35:41 (MAS Abdel Haleem’s […]
Through Two Slits, Into Mystery: The Quantum Tale of the Double-Slit Experiment
Epigraph: Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no God but He, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Guardian over everything. Eyes cannot reach Him […]
The Quranic Commentator in the Age of AI: Bridging Theology, Science, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD Abstract As artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT increasingly master diverse domains – from theology and philosophy to science, psychology, and sociology – […]