March 12, 2006

Please check out the BOOKS button at the top of the page.  We put this section online today.  The books listed here are books that we recommend.  We still have a number of books on our RECOMMENDED BOOKS LIST to be included here, and we need to complete the process of assigning categories to all of the books.  We hope that this will be completed in the next month.  This list began with the publication of The American Muslim Resource Directory in 1994.  At that time we asked 35 people to submit information about the books about Islam that they would most highly recommend.  This list was published in the directory with the initials of those who had recommended the book listed after the entry, and with the books that had received the most recommendations noted.  This new list began with that original list and has expanded over the years.
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March 7, 2006

Today we begin an important four part series: “The Nature and Structure of the Islamic World” by Ralph Braibanti.  The opening paragraph sets out the important themes to be discussed: "The waning of the twentieth century has been characterized by the irrepressible effervescence of Islam. The end of empire released powerful forces partially suppressed by colonialism. The effect of this explosion has been global and profound, benign and sinister. It has produced reactions of fear bordering on panic and hope for the recovery and radiation of values held dear by all civilizations." Check back over the next four days to complete this series.

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March 2, 2006

An interesting news story today on Yahoo News Video Shows Bush Warned Before Katrina Hit and also on AOL News raises a number of issues.  Type KATRINA in the search field for The American Muslim for a list of past articles on this subject.

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March 1, 2006

Note that The American Muslim site is updated daily.  Watch for new articles and news items.

I would ask our readers to enter ISLAMOPHOBIA in the search field for The American Muslim.  There are almost 900 articles and news items to date in this category.  They will come up by date with the most recent first.  This collection of materials should provide those who are doing research for articles or studies with a wealth of information.  I would appreciate references to additional materials that I may have missed in my research. 

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February 24, 2006

With the tragic sectarian violence in Iraq over the last few days, I encourage you to enter SHIA in the search field for The American Muslim.  This will pull up the many articles and news stories we have published on Sunni-Shia unity over the years.

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February 1, 2006

If you are looking for articles and news items on the Danish cartoon incident - just type CARTOON in the search The American Muslim field.  To see all of the articles we have published on particular current issues, e.g. NON-VIOLENCE or DIALOGUE, just type those topics into the search field.  All of the articles on that subject will then come up.  The cartoon controversy has sadly overshadowed the important series of articles on Islam and non-violence which includes many articles about Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a heroic Muslim proponent of non-violence.

I would also ask you to check out our section on Muslim biographies where we are attempting to collect biographical and contact information to enable networking and research, and our section on People which includes biographies, In Memorium, interviews, and debates.  We request feedback on updates needed, individuals who should be included, etc.

Sheila Musaji

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January 2006

Welcome to the new TAM website. We have completely changed the format and layout for TAM.  We hope that this new format will be more user friendly, and make it easier to find specific articles.

The buttons at the top of every page will allow you to easily navigate around the site.

To your right you will find a list of the most recent articles posted. If you click on “recent articles” you will get a larger list of articles posted in the last thirty days. More importantly, you will find the “search” options I promised oh-so-long-ago. Take advantage of the “advanced search”, because it is pretty cool.

Be sure to stay updated with IN THE NEWS, and stay active with current EVENTS.  If you know of an Islamic or Interfaith event, please use the “contact us” button to give us the information so we may add it to the list.

When you click on any article you will notice a beautiful piece of calligraphy at the top of the page.  From 1992 to 1995 Mohamed Zakariya produced an original piece of calligraphy to be used as an insert for each issue of the print version of The American Muslim (TAM).  The beautiful calligraphy you see at the top of each article page is from that series.

Ultimately we plan to digitize all of the pieces that Mohamed Zakariya did for TAM.  To begin with we have selected this piece which is Qur’an 3:97, and was chosen because it related to the upcoming HAJJ.

Mohamed Zakariya wrote about this piece when it appeared in the Winter 1994 issue of TAM:

This piece is from the ninety seventh ayat of Surat Al Imran.  It means, approximately:  ‘It is a duty on people towards Allah to make the Pilgrimage to the House (of Allah) for those who are able to get there.’ (see te previous ayat and first part of this one for context).

The piece was written in the jeli slus script, in a horizontal, complex format.  This is a format that is especially appropriate for mosque walls.  The border is of my own ‘ebru’ marbled paper

The Hajj and umra are momentous events in the lives of Muslims.  There are nothing like them.  I am unable to write about them.

I ask Allah to give all the Muslims a chance to participate in this unparalleled cornerstone of the religion."

To learn more about Mohamed Zakariya and his work visit our “Editors Bios” by clicking on the button at the top of the page.

We would enjoy any feedback you might have about any aspect of the new site, and Insh’Allah you will find the new site to your liking.

Sheila Musaji