Islam and Politics

“Be a Man!” Constructing Prophetic Masculinity

Introduction “Be a man, stop this crying right this minute!” These words are familiar to most adult men today as a part of their upbringing, irrespective of their heritage. Undoubtedly, the conceptualization of...

Yahya Ibrahim

An Open Letter to Muslim Men: The Sunnah Trumps Toxic Masculinity

Introduction This article is addressed to young Muslim men. Others are welcome to read on but please understand that I am addressing a specific audience. Today’s world is polarized along the lines of how people...

Dr. Jonathan Brown

Courage & Commitment: The Femininity of Muslim Women

Introduction The term ‘feminine’ conjures up images of flowers and pink fluffy fabrics, soft smiles, and sweetly spoken words. Years ago, girls in Minnesota who preferred soccer to sewing were called ‘tomboys’ because...

Dr. Tamara Gray

“And We Created You in Pairs”: Islam and the Gender Question

Introduction Gender informs who we are as individuals, as collectives, and as creators of civilization because it is real. The modern era, however, has uprooted much of our understanding of this defining aspect of...

Faatimah Knight

Islamophobia in American Society, Culture, & Politics

Introduction Islamophobia is a complex phenomenon that exists in various spheres of US society. The purpose of this short article is to help provide a basic historical analysis of Islamophobia to better understand...

Dr. Naved Bakali

Counter-Radicalization: A Critical Look into a Racist New Industry

Abstract Radicalization is the process by which individuals develop an intent to support or commit acts of political violence. The industry of counter-radicalization, or countering violent extremism as it is known in...

Dr. Tarek Younis

What is Islamophobia? The Politics of Anti-Muslim Racism

Introduction With rising anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States and Europe, there is an ongoing discussion about how to define it. Since Islam is not a race, some argue that it can’t be called “racism.” Others argue...

Nour Soubani

“Why Don’t Muslims Condemn Terrorism?” Western Violence and Scapegoating in an Age of Islamophobia

When President Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast in February 2015, he did so in the midst of a new global crisis: the rise and spread of ISIS. News stories of ISIS beheading Western journalists and burning...

Todd Green

The Far-Right’s Love Affair with Islamophobia

Abstract Anti-Muslim racism is increasingly becoming a prominent feature of far-right extremist groups and political figures across Europe and North America. This article examines the growth of Islamophobic discourse...

Dr. Naved Bakali

The Crime of Family Separation & the Compassion of a Muslim Sultan

Introduction Today, in America, we see our government and its agencies separating children from their mothers in what seems to be a weekly occurrence. The tragic stories keep pouring in of children no longer recognizing...

Shibli Zaman

Are Muslims Intolerant? Is that Even the Right Question?

Introduction This article is based on the publication, “What Causes Muslims to Doubt Islam? A Quantitative Analysis“. Key Findings American Muslim intolerance is not broadly and invariably applied, but is...

Dr. Youssef Chouhoud

LGBTQ and Islam Revisited: The Days of the Donald

Please reference our latest content on this topic “Islam and the LGBT Question: Reframing the Narrative” and webinar “Addressing LGBTQ Issues in Islam“

Dr. Jonathan Brown and Dr. Shadee Elmasry