All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us along the Straight Path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned Your anger or of those who are astray.
[1:1-7]
Welcome to The Qarawiyyin Newsletter!
To keep away the January blues, we bring you two new articles and a book list featuring some of our favourite reads from the past year. For those whose New Year’s resolution was to write more, we are always looking to expand our network of contributors and showcase the work of Muslim women! If you’re interested in submitting an article or have an idea you want to flesh out, please fill out the submission form on our website.
We pray that the new year is full of goodness and brings us all closer to our faith. Keep The Qarawiyyin Project in your prayers!
From Virtue to Vice: The Deception of Spiritual Arrogance
“Every Qur’anic story of doom carries a warning against arrogance. But spiritual arrogance, in particular, is perhaps the worst kind. Because it wears the garb of righteousness, and presents itself as virtue.”
Rushda N. reflects on the fragility of faith and provides practical steps towards spiritual humility. She shares pertinent reminders as we enter the new year.
Women and Education in the Historical Muslim World
"There have been several educational movements that revitalised the zeal for learning by promoting literacy, providing learning opportunities and restructuring school systems to fit specific community needs."
Ayah Aboelela explores the historical role of Muslim women in education.
Podcast Ep. 18: Only the Dead See the End of War
11th January marked 20 years since since the first men set foot in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
On Episode 18, the team sits down to reflect on 9/11 and its aftermath. Our ummah has faced the physical, spiritual, and intellectual consequences of American imperial violence, which inspires and goads police states around the globe in their persecution of Muslims. How do we reckon with these effects, and where do we go from here?
Listen to Episode 18 below, or find your favorite platform — including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more — here on Anchor.
January ’22 Book Recommendations
Our first book list of the year is out and it includes some of our favourite reads from the past year, with topics ranging from politics to practical advice.
January ’21 Book Recommendations
If you have time for a few extra reads, check out our January 2021 book list featuring a mix of Islamic history, theology and critiques of modernity.
As well as periodically updating our resource bank, here we share some other insightful contributions from prominent Muslim figures and organisations.
VIDEO: Fifth Ummatics Colloquium: The ‘Ulama and Imperial Muslim Political Theology For the Fifth Ummatics Colloquium, Dr. SherAli Tareen presents a chapter from his forthcoming monograph, The Promise and Peril of Hindu-Muslim Friendship. He interrogates the multiplicity of ways in which prominent Indian Muslim scholars understood Islam’s relationship with Hindu thought, life, and practice in early modern and modern South Asia. It is followed by two responses by Dr. Hafsa Kanjwal and Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui.
EVENT: The Hermeneutics of Islamic Legal Authority Conference Feb 10-11, 2022 - Georgetown University Georgetown university are holding a 2 day event consisting of a series of presentations by esteemed academics, exploring the hermeneutics of Islamic legal theory. Register via the zoom link.
ARTICLE: Guantanamo Bay 20 Years on: A symbol of US impunity and torture - CAGE CAGE released a statement marking two decades of Guantanamo. It discusses the broken promises of 3 US presidents, the "Guantanamisation" of society and how the last 2 decades of the War on Terror have forever tarnished the USA.
FUNDRAISER: Donate to Afghanistan Emergency Appeal - Islamic Relief UK Islamic Relief is on the ground delivering vital food packs, water storage kits and winter clothing, as well as providing medical care through health centres supporting displaced families.
If you have any questions, feedback or would like to feature in our next newsletter, let us know. Email us at contact@qarawiyyinproject.co or visit our website to find out more about our article submission process.
For all our latest content, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Until next time, Assalaamu Alaykum