I’ve been reflecting on what my research on religious learning in American Muslim communities can teach us about narratives, leadership, and organisational learning.
Here are seven key insights drawn from my latest book, insights that apply far beyond religious spaces and speak directly to how we position ourselves for change, acquire knowledge, build learning frameworks, and develop our teams for meaningful, positive impact.
I look down at the Arabic script and stare. I can no longer read it. It’s a strange fear that I have, that I’ll open the Qur’an one day and be unable to read. When I pick up the book after some time away, despite my daily prayer, my tongue carries this fear, heavy and cautious stumbling over the first few words, until …
The sun is setting behind Rumi’s tomb, scorching the clouds on its descent, giving them fired coloured edges. The students exit the museum housing Rumi’s tomb and make their way to the side of the building, where a mini colosseum is constructed.
As midday approached, my roommate and I boarded a ferry to Büyükada, one of the nine Princes’ Islands in Turkey. She called me ‘sister’ given our shared African heritage, but only when she was happy with me; otherwise, it was ‘cousin’.
I don’t recall the age at which I started working but a picture of me and my two older brothers, horsing around in a large brown box makes me want to believe that I was perhaps seven or eight years old. It wasn’t considered working at the time.
Muslim education in the public domain is on a slippery slope. In the age of information satire with the popularity of Jon Stewart, Colbert, and other media projects aimed to point out the absurdity in public opinions or long held racist stances, much humor also permeates Muslim education. The need to provide some levity to dense topics isn’t new.
I took travel for granted. My focus was always on the end of the trip. What I would do when I met a friend, what sights I would see when I arrived, what meetings did I have to make. Being in transit was literally a means to an end. And for work I had to travel quite a lot, back and forth between New York and different countries in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
Ramadan is fast approaching. A time for reflection, forgiveness, supplication, and getting closer to Allah. It is said to be the time of the year when the most dua is made by Muslims all over the world. Soon we will see news outlets carrying pictures of Muslims preparing for the month…
Don’t be scared! Yea you! You know who you are. It’s always the same story, whether on the platform, or on the train, walking or standing on the city streets. As you see me coming towards you, our eyes quickly meet and in the next split instant you…
After a long hiatus, I entered the air conditioned confines of the prayer space. I greeted the woman at the door, taking the offered plastic bag. I pushed my shoes into the bag and then into my handbag. I made my way to the back, stopping at the bookshelf. I slid onto the carpet, folded my legs, and arranged my skirt to touch the floor, blanketing my crossed limbs.
