Discovering the Legacy of Muhammad
Going beyond the hype and discovering the legacy of Muhammad Today is a special day, for it is today we remember a man who was without peer, who changed history more than any other person and would bring balance to the lives of his followers throughout the centuries. Strangely, the image that some of the world has of this man is in stark contrast to the vast literature of eyewitness accounts. Th...

The Blessing of Serving Others
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful and Peace and Prayers upon his beloved Prophet Muhammad and his family. I'm writing this in the tekke of Sandıkçı Şeyh Edhem Efendi (d. 1878) may Allah protect his secret, a saint of the Rifa'i tariqah. A tekke (Turkish), khanqah (Persian), ribat or zawiyah (Arabic) is a permanent building used as place of retreat for those learning a spiritual...

Hajj: Inward and Outward Journey
In this article, I would like to share with you some of my personal reflections on the hajj, a journey to the center of the Muslim world to where the faith began, not just for Muhammad (peace be upon him), but because it was were Abraham (peace be upon him) built the first house of pilgrimage dedicated to a monotheistic conception of God. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and when talking ...

Between the left and right brain: the limits of reason
Close both eyes to see with the other eye. (Rumi)   As many of us know, the brain is divided into two hemispheres: the left and right. What many don’t know is the particular abilities of each of these hemispheres. Our left brain is logical, makes plans and remembers. Our right perceives the external world, is impressed upon by our senses and is where we feel emotion. Making this distinction has ...