Peter’s Picks: The Unifying Power of Man and Guitar, Saif Adam

This week we hum along within the realm of music as Peter Gould features a talented singer-songwriter whose star is quickly rising. British musician Saif Adam has recently released his debut album, and it’s simply gorgeous. Heart brings listeners on an uplifting and inspiring musical journey that explores themes many hearts will relate to. Watching him perform an intimate live acoustic … Read more

Peter’s Picks: Exploring Art’s Intersections

This week, Peter Gould spreads the word about a calligrapher who expands her artistic boundaries to venture into entirely different realms of expression. Soraya Sanders is a gifted calligrapher based in the UK. Her recent project, Hurriyah (video below; meaning “Freedom” in Arabic), is a stunning creative fusion of calligraphy, animation and dance. Soraya has pushed and shifted the … Read more

A New Feminist Movement? Middle Eastern Hijabis as Superheroes

In the late 1980s, feminism in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) context gained prominence in international debate. Research addressed “the status of women in Muslim countries through two frames: the inhibiting effects of Islam and the potential for reform through norms building.” Many contemporary scholars concluded, “Islam, specifically the prevailing interpretations of Islamic … Read more

Moving tribute to hijabis by Dr Sherman Jackson

Also known as Abdul Hakim Jackson, Dr Sherman A. Jackson is an American scholar who is King Faisal Chair of Islamic Thought and Culture. Watch his moving tribute to Muslim women all around the world for wearing the hijab. Also the Professor of Religion and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, … Read more

Samina Ali: A woman’s warrior

We’re frequently delivered the same old Muslim women’s trope – the placid housewife, or the shackled bint who doesn’t know any better. But there aren’t many who challenge stereotypes as strongly as writer Samina Ali. She speaks to Amal Awad about Muslim feminism and her journey into it. Perhaps more extraordinary than Samina Ali’s activism is the … Read more