The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Based at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA) is dedicated to the study of Islamic art and architecture, urbanism, landscape design, and conservation – and the application of that knowledge to contemporary design projects. The goals of the program are […]
What did Gothic cathedrals borrow from the Cordoba Mosque?
PBS documentary tells us around 18 minute mark: The short answer is vaulted roofs!
Israel to Build Museum of Tolerance on Historic Muslim Cemetery
TEL AVIV, June 9, 2011 (WAFA) – The Planning and Construction Committee of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem Thursday gave approval to build the Museum of Tolerance on the site of an ancient historic Muslim cemetery in Mamilla, an area outside Jerusalem’s Old City west of the Jaffa Gate, according to Haaretz newspaper. The project is […]
How a secularist persecution of peaceful orthodox imams changed the face of scholarship: The Mihna
A bizarre event in Islamic history Between 833 and 848 AD, a bizarre event took place in Islamic history which was to change the face of scholarship and law for ever. It was the agressive inquisition by the ‘secular’ Caliph Al-Ma’mun (yes, the one who also established the Bait al-Hikma) […]
ISLAM AND SCIENCE – CONCORDANCE OR CONFLICT?
This speech was delivered by Professor Abdus Salam, Nobel Laureate in Physics (1979), in Paris at the UNESCO House on April 27, 1984 at the invitation of the Organization ‘Islam and the West’. The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Dr. Habib Chatti, inaugurated the meeting. The format of the meeting […]
Islamic law: the Development of a Sphere of Law independent from the State
In the years after the passing away of Muhammad, the next stage of legal development began with the rise of “proto-qadis” (judges) who, though appointed by political authorities, quickly achieved a measure of independence from the “state.” These proto-qadis, according to Hallaq, began as arbitrators, administrators, even storytellers, but they quickly began […]
Muhammad: the Light for the Dark Ages of Europe!
An honest study of the causes of the Dark Ages and European renaissance will lead to the inevitable conclusion that Muhammad, may peace be on him, was the Light of the Dark Ages. John Davenport writes in an apology for Mohammed and the Koran: “It is in the compositions of Friar […]
Dante Alighieri and Islam
By ROBERTA FEDELE Considered an emblem of the Christian Middle Ages and a central author of the Western tradition, Italian writer Dante Alighieri unintentionally reveals a lot about the influence of Islamic thought and models on Christian Europe. This is especially true of his masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy”, regarded as a prodigy […]
The Flag of Bilal (4): Constitutionalism
As described by political scientist and constitutional scholar David Fellman: Constitutionalism is descriptive of a complicated concept, deeply imbedded in historical experience, which subjects the officials who exercise governmental powers to the limitations of a higher law. Constitutionalism proclaims the desirability of the rule of law as opposed to rule […]
The Flag of Bilal (3): The Medina Charter as the First written Constitution
The Medina Charter, written and promulgated by Prophet Muhammad for the multi-religious ten thousand-strong citizens of the city-state of Medina in 622 A.D is truly a remarkable political-constitutional document. The claim made by Professor M. Hamidullah that it was the first written constitution (FN1) in the world is not without basis. […]
Ancient manuscript honoured
Illustrated work from 16th century makes it onto prestigious Unesco world list New Delhi: An illustrated Indian manuscript recounting the history of Mughal ancestor Timur has been inscribed on Unesco’s Memory of the World Register, an official has said. The Tarikh-E-Khandan-E-Timuriyah was written and created during the reign of Mughal […]
The Flag of Bilal (2): King Cyrus issues the first declaration of human rights, 539 BC
Tracing the history of Constitutions and the Bill of Human Rights, my first stop is at the great king Cyrus, who is mentioned in the Bible as Messiah and in the Quran as Zul-Qarnayn. He issued what is seen as the first human rights declaration in history. As wrote the […]
1001 Inventions declared in UK best touring exhibition. Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World
By ARAB NEWS JEDDAH: The internationally renowned “1001 Inventions” exhibition, which is touring the world in partnership with ALJ Community Initiatives (ALJCI), was crowned Best Touring Exhibition of the year at the annual Museums and Heritage Excellence Awards in London on May 11. The project won the title in a group […]
The Flag of Bilal (1): Islam and Constitutionalism
Historically, Islam contributed to the modern concepts of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The concept of the Constitution fits in perfectly with Muhammad’s (s) example of coexisting on the basis of fair treaties guaranteeing freedom of religion and integrity of the individual. Constitutions often embody the same inalienable […]
Uninformed calls for an Islamic Reformation
Since 2001 a plethora of writers have made calls for an Islamic “Reformation“. Many hopes (and careers) are pinned on the idea, but there is no such thing coming. The Islamic reformation has already happened. The Muslim equivalent of nailing the 95 theses was the desecration of a graveyard and […]