Pandemic reshapes worship across the UK's many faiths
(AP) — Rites that have been the bedrock of beliefs for centuries have evolved swiftly during the pandemic lockdown.
For Italy’s Muslims, few places to pray and fewer places to bury COVID-19 dead
(RNS) — As the pandemic proceeded, the building of Islamic cemeteries became a front in a populist culture war.
How interfaith activism helped Saadia Faruqi change the face of children’s books
(RNS) – Saadia Faruqi’s writing draws on her two decades as a Muslim interfaith activist in Texas — and as the mother of two children.
How a quarantine matchmaking project for Muslims found itself navigating anti-Blackness
(RNS) — Through Eye Meets Soul, a virtual blind matchmaking experience for Muslim millennials, founders hoped personal appearance, race and ethnicity would fade into the background. Easier said than done.
As Massachusetts bans female genital cutting, survivors and activists celebrate
(RNS) — After seven years of advocacy by survivors and activists in the state, Massachusetts is now one of 39 states in the U.S. that has criminalized female genital mutilation and cutting.
Kashmir's lockdown at one year: A region's alienation turns to betrayal
(RNS) — Kashmir's loss of autonomy has now taken on a larger figurative dimension: It is also about betrayal of trust, political disempowerment and a deep sense of humiliation.
Muslim leaders call for hate crime investigation into deadly Denver house fire
(RNS) – Denver police have opened a homicide investigation into the deadly house fire that killed Djibril Diol and his wife and toddler daughter, as well as two other family members.
Muslim Democratic delegates reject party platform over aid for Israel, Iran sanctions
(RNS) — Members of the Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition are urging all delegates to vote against approving the platform during this week’s vote.
What good is faith when your fertility treatments aren't working?
(RNS) — Some of the biggest faith-based challenges of infertility may be existing in a family-centered community.
COVID hajj restrictions leave streets of Mecca empty, pilgrimage businesses in trouble
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (RNS) — As much as a quarter of the economy around Mecca relies on tourism and pilgrimages. Pandemic restrictions — which cut hajj pilgrims from millions to thousands — mean lost income for local businesses and residents.
In its 10th year, the game ‘Pilgrims at Home’ takes on new meaning for Muslim women
(RNS) — From Houston to Nigeria, over 300 teams of Muslim women are participating in this year’s game, hoping to ‘find hajj at home.’
As an isolated hajj begins, Abraham’s trust in God is ours
(RNS) — This year’s disappointments may mean that Muslims will connect in a unique way this year to Abraham’s story as we celebrate Eid al-Adha.
Islamic holiday Eid comes as families grieve virus victims
(AP) — Marwa Conelly was looking forward to the upcoming Islamic Eid al-Adha holiday this year — then she lost her father to the coronavirus, and less than 24 hours later her mother.
Illinois imam resigns over sexist, racist social media posts
(RNS) — An imam at a suburban Chicago-area mosque has resigned after circulation of his social media posts using derogatory language toward Muslim women and a racial slur.
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Muslim pilgrims have started arriving in Mecca for a drastically scaled-down hajj, as Saudi authorities balance the kingdom’s oversight of one of Islam’s key pillars and the safety of visitors.