MuslimMatters

Christmas is around the corner, and the Christmas carols, decor, and workplace parties hype is at its peak! What does that mean for Muslims? Can't we all sing Muslim carols, have a crescent shaped tree, and celebrate the Mawlid of Prophet 'Eesa (as)? Or is Christmas really haraam? Ustadha Alima Ashfaq shares how Muslims can navigate the Christmas season in a way true to our Deen and sensitive to i...

In a world ravaged by debates over masculinity and femininity, Muslims are left wondering what Islam says about men and masculine traits. While characteristics such as courage, strength, and dominance are often brought up, we hear very little about the concept of modesty for men. What does hayaa' mean in relation to Muslim men? Are gym selfies okay for Muslim men to post? How can Muslim fathers te...

In this episode of the MuslimMatters podcast, Zainab bint Younus speaks to Hadia Mubarak, author of the new and fascinating book "Rebellious Wives, Neglectful Husbands: Controversies in Modern Qur'anic Commentaries." From polygamy to nushooz, Mubarak compares and contrasts the many different ways that Islamic exegetes (mufassiroon) conceptualized and discussed these contentious topics in the Qur'a...

Sh Abdul Rahman Chao takes on the topic of corporal punishment in Islamic education, discouragement of critical thinking, and the dangers of abusive teaching.

Sh Shahin-ur Rahman and Zainab bint Younus tackle the ever-pressing question of "Is Harry Potter haraam?", understanding the Islamic perspective of poetry, and the importance of literature and fiction for Muslims.

Kirin Nabi (The Islamic School Librarian) and Zainab bint Younus talk all things Muslim bookstagram! From the evolution of Muslim fiction and the theological implications of Muslim fantasy, to diving into critical reading and Muslim bookish pet peeves, this episode is no-holds barred!

It is the time for all of us to organize and ally with one another to call for accountability on behalf of those who are unable to advocate for themselves. Guantanamo Bay is more than just a symbol, it is our obligation towards the oppressed and to our own selves.  For more information about the Dhul Hijjah Global Activism Drive, visit: https://muslimmatters.org/2022/06/29/guantanamo/ To learn mor...

How many Muslim women actually experience domestic violence? Do Muslim women's shelters ruin families? What about keeping Muslim families intact? In this episode of the MuslimMatters Podcast, Zainab bint Younus and Yasmine Youssef of NisaHomes tackle these tough questions and more. What can Muslims do to proactively prevent or reduce tragedies like the murder of three generations of Muslim women i...

Muslim Bookstagram is always on the hunt for authentic Own Voices additions to #MyMuslimShelfSpace - and while we live in an exciting time of witnessing the success of Muslim authors such as S. K. Ali, Reem Faruqi, and Shannon Chakraborty, we should never forget that the stage for unapologetically Muslim fiction was set by other incredible Muslim writers. This episode of the MuslimMatters podcast...

Originally written for MuslimMatters, listen to the article read to you.  It will summarize the allegations of the lawsuit and then discuss (a)the legitimacy of the allegations based on third-party investigations and scientific research, (b)why this issue is important to Muslims, and (c) what we can do with this information.  https://muslimmatters.org/2021/11/15/the-subway-tuna-conundrum/

did you hear the news? the blood flowed and she was handed a hijab wash the stains, cover the head, hide the chest it's a haemorrhage of her childhood. listen, there is blood on the streets too. it's not hers. bodies lie in plain sight. how will she wash these stains? rainwater returns to the beds of roses. she's Trending, it's all over the news it's all over sister, you're no longer part of the h...

In January,  MuslimMatters ran an exclusive story written by journalist Fatimah Waseem on the modest fashion company, Annah Hariri. Thousands of customers have accused the company Annah Hariri of scamming them and never fulfilling orders or granting refunds. Read more about this investigation. Make your own judgments and be wary as Eid al Adha approaches and ads for sales will undoubtedly lure hun...

Amire of MuslimKidsBookNook and Zainab bint Younus discuss refugee representation in Muslim literature, authentic representation vs whitewashed tokenism, and advice to Muslim authors.

There's a mistake that many mothers of single daughters on the marriage market make: pressuring their daughters to change essential parts of themselves for the sake of finding a husband. The most important thing to remember is that getting your daughter married isn't the end goal--your daughter being successful in her marriage is. Listen to this open letter to mothers of single daughters looking t...

ShaykhaTalk is a new MM podcast mini-series with female Islamic scholars! This episode with Shaykha Umm Jamaal ud-Din explores her journey to scholarship as a convert to Islam, and the unique challenges and experiences she's had as a woman in da'wah.

Parents are constantly worried about how to raise their children to be good Muslims. Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter recently wrote on this topic in the article “Did The Prophet ﷺ Wear Glasses? – Raising Your Children To Be Resilient Muslims.” He shares his framework for raising resilient Muslim kids, as well as 5 tips that every Muslim parent can start using today. You can now listen to this article re...

What's the best form of Islamic education for kids? Islamic school? Boarding school? Sunday school at the masjid? A traditional madrasah? Shaykh AbdulRahman Chao, a teacher and education consultant, Shaykh AbdulRahman Chao provides a critical look at Islamic pedagogy and discusses what a holistic Islamic education for children should include. 

Trigger warning: pregnancy loss Experiencing a pregnancy loss is a difficult test many women experience, yet a taboo topic in most communities. This Mother's Day weekend, hear about a mother's pregnancy loss and what her healing process was like. This article is a narration of "My Miscarriage And Healing Afterwards" and is read to you by the author, Meena Malik. You can read the article on MuslimM...

You’ve heard of seemingly random Muslim organizations collecting zakat funds by now. Giving zakat fisabilillah (in the path of Allah) is a hot topic of discussion and debate among scholars. This discussion has also played out on MuslimMatters, and you can read all of those opinions and put them in conversation with each other. So, what have various experts written about giving zakat to the poor ve...

Excitement is in the air as the last 10 nights of Ramadan have arrived! But for some people - especially busy mothers or menstruating women - this is accompanied by a sense of sadness or frustration that they can't do as much as they wish they could. Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil introduces a paradigm shift that believers should develop for the last 10 nights of Ramadan.  This podcast episode delivers...

Why do we only talk about parenting in Ramadan when it has to do with mothers? What are fathers' roles in training their kids in Ramadan? How can Muslim women stay spiritually connected in Ramadan while going through menstruation or PMDD? And do we really have to accept all iftaar invitations in Ramadan?

Ramadan can be an exciting time of increased acts of devotion and more time spent at the masjid in communal prayers. However, for parents with young children, Ramadan may be a stressful time of extra responsibilities and a feeling of missing out on all the bells and whistles of Ramadan worship.   Listen to this narration of an article posted on MuslimMatters last year to hear about the plan one  m...

Mansoor Adayfi, former Guantanamo Bay detainee and author of "Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo Bay", speaks about how his faith in Allah helped him survive over a decade of illegal imprisonment and torture.