A Journey Like No Other: Mr. Smith’s Path to Islam

January 8, 2016January 8, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 1 Comment

Written by James Smith

I have never been the one to talk about my faith much. I have always kind of kept it to myself. So I thought I would come out of my shell and be a part of the convert conversation.

My childhood was like any other child living in the rural America. I kind of lived out of town in the country. Now when I say town, I am talking population of 2500. Yep, not exactly a city slicker. My Mom was the spiritual one. I do have a faint memory of my father being baptized but he was never much of the spiritual type. Candle_lighting_a_plate_of_oranges_and_smarties_1

I remember doing the candle thing with my Mom and we talked about Jesus but I didn’t really get it. As I grew older, God took a back seat in my life. I was more interested in comic book heroes, role playing games, and spaceships.

The Reality of Being Muslim in America

January 1, 2016January 11, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 7 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin Published on Washington Post

The name calling and racial slurs began when I started wearing hijab.

…

Twelve years after 9/11, the climate of hate has only gotten worse. Extremists who call themselves Muslims continue to terrorize people of all faiths across the globe. American extremists continue to stoke the flames of fear and hate, attacking Muslims in rhetoric, in our houses of worship and even on the street.

hate hurts — Grafitti defaces a mosque at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Halalified Sausage Balls

December 24, 2015January 11, 2016 by ssiam ♥ 3 Comments

Written by Stephanie Siam

I have to admit when I became Muslim, there were a couple of things I was not excited about giving up. Pork, on the other hand, was not on that short list. Unlike many, many Southerners, I never developed an affinity for “the other white meat”. In fact, when my mother would announce we were having pork chops for dinner, I would groan and mumble, “I’d rather eat tire rubber.”

Still, as a non-Muslim, you don’t realize how many products (i.e., delicious processed junk foods) have pork by-products in them. Marshmallows, Lucky Charms (darn you, Leprechaun!), Jell-O…….I could go on, but I won’t. No sense rubbing it in your face what you can’t have anymore. (Darn you, Leprechaun….again!)

ISIS Can Hurt Us … But Only If We Let Them

December 18, 2015January 15, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 6 Comments

Written by Abu Turab*

Dear Americans,

Our great nation was built by peoples from all over the world coming together. With their blood, sweat and tears they laid the foundation brick by brick. Mistakes were made and not everyone was treated fairly all the time. But our saving grace has always been that we are always in flux, always changing, always shifting to adjust and reach an equilibrium where all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

ISIS is now threatening this with terror. They can now win without firing another shot. It all depends on you and me and whether or not we embrace our fellow citizens and overcome distrust with our American spirit.

How Isis will win if we let them — photo credit vox.com

American Muslims were here from the beginning helping to build this nation. About a quarter of the African slaves brought to the colonies were Muslim (1). Their blood, sweat and tears mixed into the foundation along with everyone else’s.

Islamophobia, Radicalism & Oz

December 11, 2015January 15, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 4 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

So you might have noticed that I have been phoning it in lately. If you have noticed this, it was for a good reason. If you haven’t noticed, then forget I said anything. 😉 At the beginning of this month (Dec 2015), I travelled to a far away land (20 hours of hard-core plane travel away) to present my research on women in Islam at the 2nd Annual Australasian Conference on Islam.

It was an amazing experience filled with learning, meeting amazing people, and exploring Sydney, Australia.

opra house — Oprah house at Sydney Harbour. Pic taken by the hubby

The thesis of my research (boiled down a ton) amounted to the fact that a form of Islamophobia, with misogynistic roots, exists within the Muslim global community.

7 Questions to Ask Before Asking if Muslims Condemn Terrorism

December 4, 2015January 15, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 3 Comments

Written by Hind Makki and originally posted on here on Patheos

In the last few days, several people have put their two cents in about whether Muslims are condemning ISIS, why these condemnations aren’t reaching those who need to hear it, and what Muslims can do to reach the media. A tumblr page has been created documenting instances of Muslims condemning things. This question, “Why don’t Muslims condemn terrorism,” is one that nearly single Muslim leader, activist, public intellectual, interfaith speaker, has had to answer multiple times, especially since 9/11.

[…]

I’m frustrated because for years, Muslim writers/activists/leaders have endured our interfaith sisters and brothers, as well as media and politicians, telling us that we don’t denounce terrorism done by Muslims. Even though Muslim organizations, leaders, lay people have all constantly condemned terrorism in the name of Islam, consistently since 9/11.

My Muslims ID Badge

November 27, 2015January 15, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 6 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Right now I am on a plane to Australia on my way to speak at a conference about the failings of some Muslims to uphold the rights of women as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did. I am at once relieved and heartsick. I am relieved to leave an environment where tension follows me like bad B.O. simply because I am a Muslim. But I am also heartsick over the failings of some of my own country(wo)men to protect the rights of religious freedom as our forefathers would have us do.