Religious Dreams

Some religious dreams are more pleasant than others. Ab Syahid shares advice on interpreting them. Dreams. We’ve all had them. From images of utopia to ones in which you’re plunging off a skyscraper at full speed. The random nature of what we experience when asleep makes it impossible to decide whether to take our subconscious minds seriously … Read more

MOCAfest 2015: Omar Offendum preaches love and justice with hip-hop

The Syrian-American spoken word artist and peace activist connect lines of solidarity across different marginalized groups with his music. Born to Syrian parents in Saudi Arabia, Omar Offendum moved to the US when he was very young. He first lived in Washington DC, where he studied at an Islamic school, before moving to Los Angeles, … Read more

Back to basics: the Five Pillars of Islam

Afia R Fitriati sums up the five pillars that make up the foundation of being a Muslim. Every activity of a Muslim can – and should – be an act of worship to God. There are five obligatory duties, also known as the five pillars of Islam, that are required of every Muslim as a framework … Read more

Book Review: The Hijab of Cambodia

Farina So’s gripping monograph of the memories of Cham Muslim women after the Khmer Rouge opens Sya Taha’s eyes to their experiences. Stories of gender-based violence, especially in times of conflict, is nothing new. But what pulled me towards this book was the geopolitical situation and demographics of conflict: the Khmer Rouge regime (also known as Democratic … Read more

The meaning of the word ‘Muslim’

Alayna Ahmad explores the roots of the term, how it has changed over the centuries, and why understanding its deeper meaning is vital in today’s world. The world consists of 1.6 billion Muslims, a number that grows daily. Most people will acknowledge that the word ‘Muslim’, which occurs in the Qur’an 90 times*,  means one who … Read more