Hussein

Why the Charlie Hebdo attack is not about images or free speech (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service

Hussein January 8, 2015

Why the Charlie Hebdo attack is not about images or free speech (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service.

Regarding images: Muhammad is a powerful symbol for Muslims. The Quran calls him a “beautiful role model,” and he is considered to be the most perfect Muslim.
It is generally accepted by Muslims that images of Muhammad, or any other person, do not appear in mosques.
However, this ban does not extend outside the mosque. Various Muslim cultures show a comfort with painting and figural representation. Images of Muhammad, his family, prophets and other holy figures exist. They are on display in museums throughout the world. In some, the faces are obscured, but in many, the faces are on full display.

Why Islam forbids images of Mohammed – CNN.com

Hussein January 8, 2015

Why Islam forbids images of Mohammed – CNN.com.

In a bitter irony, the sometimes violent attacks against portrayals of the prophet are kind of reverse idol-worship, revering — and killing for — the absence of an image, said Hussein Rashid, a professor of Islamic studies at Hofstra University in New York.

#GivingTuesday Chat with Dr. Hussein Rashid | Ismailimail

Hussein December 11, 2014

#GivingTuesday Chat with Dr. Hussein Rashid | Ismailimail.

‘Serial’ whodunit shows how perceptions of Muslims have changed (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service

Hussein December 6, 2014

‘Serial’ whodunit shows how perceptions of Muslims have changed (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service.

The podcast “Serial” is an addictive radio documentary that revolves around a real-life whodunit: the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee and the conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for the crime.
It also illustrates how our thinking about Muslims has changed.

Why Peter Kassig was the Islamic State’s greatest threat (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service

Hussein November 26, 2014

Why Peter Kassig was the Islamic State's greatest threat (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service.

With each bloody act, Islamic State militants demonstrate their need for self-importance overrides any moral, ethical, or religious boundary. Peter Kassig’s beheading is a microcosm of all the Islamic State wants, and religion is not high on that list.

The delicate politics of school holidays (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service

Hussein November 25, 2014

The delicate politics of school holidays (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service.

Changing school calendars is a politically difficult maneuver because it makes statements about community identity. Our initial school calendar was determined by a mix of agricultural schedules and dominant religious thought. The result: summers off to work the land, and the end of December off to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Despite changing economies and demographics, we hold on to this system because it tells a story of who we are as a nation.

The Islamophobia Of Media Analysis In ‘Lone Wolf’ Shootings

Hussein November 6, 2014

The Islamophobia Of Media Analysis In ‘Lone Wolf’ Shootings.

The recent attacks on military and law enforcement personnel in Canada and the U.S. raises the specter of “lone wolf” terrorist attacks, making Muslims suspect. Such thinking is superficial and reactionary. In the age of modern Islamophobia, it is a situation of owning a hammer and thinking everything is a nail. Looking at so-called “lone wolf” attacks in more detail and in a larger context reveals disconcerting issues in mental health care and media representations of Islam.

ISIS: More Manson Family Than Religious Movement – The Takeaway

Hussein November 5, 2014

ISIS: More Manson Family Than Religious Movement – The Takeaway.

Hussein Rashid, a professor of religion at Hofstra University, argues that extremism appeals to those with mental illness because of their perceived lack of control in their own lives.