Is Islamic Mysticism Really Islam?
By Omid Safi There is a lovely story from the life of the Prophet Muhammad, remembering that a mysterious visitor came upon him and…
The Martyrs of Karbala
By Sadia Dehlvi We are in the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the lunar Muslim Hijrah Calendar. According to authentic prophetic traditions,…
Baba Nanak to Baba Farid
This is how the Sufis and mystics of South Asia viewed jihad, peace and the role of religion. Surely our extremists need to read…
Baba Farid’s shrine and the barbarians within us
This morning arrived with the shocking news of the recent barbarity played out in Pakpattan (formerly known as Ajodhan) when two criminals left bombs…
The barbarians have attacked another shrine – no respite for Karachi
Karachi’s famous shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi was attacked a while ago. Over 60 people are injured and 12 are dead. After Lahore’s Data…
A secular-minded government rejects excessively religious dress in school
The Economist reports: Take it off Jul 15th 2010 | Damascus AS MEMBERS of France’s parliament voted to outlaw the public wearing of the…
A beatific vision – Nizamuddin Auliya
A beatific vision – Nizamuddin Auliya, originally uploaded by Jahane Rumi. There is something unique, almost magical about this place. Otherwise a tiny space…
Lahore’s shrine bombed – outrageous, barbaric and unacceptable
As if the recent acts of violence and an atmosphere of fear was not enough, the butchers have attacked Lahore’s oldest and grandest shrine…
Lahore attack strikes Sufism, a tolerant blend of Islam
A France24 story By Leela JACINTO (where I was quoted) The attack on the landmark Data Darbar shrine in the eastern Pakistani city of…
Suicide bombers kill dozens at Pakistan shrine
Declan Walsh in Islamabad reporting for the Guardian At least 42 killed and 175 injured in blasts at Sufi shrine in Lahore where thousands…
First woman to lead Friday prayers in UK
This is such an interesting development. Much as it is preaching to the converted syndrome. But as such scattered reformist acts occur within Islam…
Shah Hussain, Madhu Lal and the festival of lights
Lighting of lamps is a metaphor for killing the inner darkness that we live with. By invoking spiritual light through love and self-knowledge, we…
A few Gems From Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
On the blessed day of birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), I am posting some of his sayings as we…
The closed minds that deny a civilisation’s glories – where I was quoted
I was most pleased to read this piece by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown entitled The closed minds that deny a civilisation’s glories. I would like to…
Pseudo-Messianic Movements in Contemporary Muslim South Asia
This new book by Yoginder Sikand has been published by Global Media Publications in 2008. Messianic hopes and expectations are common to almost all…
Itihaas : Was Hussaiyn bin Mansour Al Hallaj inspired by India?
By Akhilesh Mittal In the third century of its advent Islam and its world were in ferment about forms of polity such as the…
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar of Sehwan
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar‘s shrine is full of devotees these days. His Urs is a major cultural event in Sindh. The Qalandar has followers across…
New book: Wanted: Equality and Justice in the Muslim Family
Reviewed by: Yoginder Sikand Muslim family laws have for long been—and continue to be—a hugely controversial subject. Critics contend that these laws seriously militate…
Pakistan’s Sufis Preach Faith and Ecstasy
Read this great blog and was tempted to cross-post a few bits here: Every year, a few hundred thousand Sufis converge in Seh- wan,…
Build The Peace Consensus
By Sadia Dehlvi The trail of terror continues with cricketers as the latest target. The Mumbai and Lahore attacks, public executions and the murder…