This time of year, Mecca is usually teeming with millions of faithful Muslims with the intent of performing Umrah. There are the usual sights—men and women covered in their stark white ihrams, prostrating believers filling up the masjids and the roads—but there is something noticeably different this year; the innumerable face masks.

You’ve finally found that special someone—they seem pleasant, caring and you have a lot to talk about.  The conversation flows easily, they make you laugh, and as a plus, your friends love them. One little problem: they aren’t Muslim.  Or Christian, or Jewish, or whatever faith it is that you now practice or grew up with.  Maybe they’re Shiite as opposed to Sunni Muslim, or Catholic as opposed to Protestant.

The dilemma here is:  I don’t share the same faith with this person, but I really connect with them.  What to do?  Do you continue a possible relationship?  What would be the issues that arise from such a decision?  The following are things that both people should think about when contemplating going forward in a relationship:

During a historic presidential campaign season, President Obama promised all sorts of reform and improved relations; an overhaul of the countries health care system, education system improvements, and eased relations between the classes and races of society.

One of the biggest and ultimately, most elusive promises, has been to improve the United States’ image in the Middle East and creating better U.S.-Arab relations. While Obama should be commended for reaching out in many ways to the Arab world, the promise that one person could singularly heal generations of hate, ignorance, and fear is laughable.  Read more>>

They burst through walls, save the innocent and nab the bad guy—all while promoting Islamic ideals and being role models for millions of children.

“The 99”, an Arab cartoon which hopes to provide better role models for children all over the Middle East, features superheroes like Jabbar, a Saudi-Arabian man with amazing strength a la the Hulk, and Batina the Hidden, a woman wearing the traditional burqa. The cartoon is reportedly a Sharia-compliant version of the wildly popular X-Men franchise, and has been so popular in the Arab world that the cartoon has been slated to appear on British television this year.   Read more>>

Only days ago, a Muslim woman was asked to leave her local pool for wearing inappropriate swimwear. No, she was not wearing anything that would be considered offensive or revealing. She had donned the popular “burqini” that many Muslim women wear when they go swimming or to the beach.

Carole, a 35-year-old French Muslim convert, had bought her burqini on a trip to Dubai, because she wanted to swim freely while enjoying the modesty that the swimsuit provided. When back in France, she bought summer tickets to her local public pool for herself and her children. It seemed that they were allowed to swim without harassment until an official banned the use of the covered swimsuit for “hygienic purposes.”  Read more>>

Million-dollar real estate deals are made daily in Dubai. Hotels spring up as if of their own accord. Celebrities arrive to the city in private jets, checking in discretely at five-star hotels.

This is not the same Dubai it was 20, even 15 years ago. It has become a destination town, one where rollicking fun, debauchery and indulgence is not only overlooked, but encouraged.  Read more>>

The Arabic short story first appeared in the late 19th century in daily newspapers and weekly magazines. Some argue this is because the Arabic short story was short enough to be published and could be read quickly and easily.

By the end of the 19th century, Egyptian, Lebanese and Syrian publications increased the number of Arabic short stories: these were called Riwaya , Qissah, or Hikayah.  The Arabic short story can be classified in different periods.  Read more>>

The Egyptian National Soccer team improved its chances to qualify for the World Cup by defeating Rwanda 3 – 0 on July 5, 2009. Although the Egyptian national team holds the record for winning the African championships an unprecedented six times, it has not been able to qualify for the World Cup since 1990.

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The glaring sun, the waves lapping against the shore, children laughing and playing, bodies displayed for all to see with only scant swimsuits for protection. These are some of the images that come to mind when thinking of the beach, but for many Muslim women, they are not able to enjoy the beach in the same way.

Many modest women avoid swimming in public areas because of the lack of any proper swimsuits that cover them according to Islamic standards. There has been a need for proper swimsuits that would make a woman comfortable enough to step out in as well as to swim in, but these needs had not yet been met. Many women who would swim, would either so do in large swaths of clothes or ingeniously make their own version of a modest swimsuit.  Read more>>

Michael Jackson’s death felt like a shockwave throughout the world. The King of Pop, dead at 50. People didn’t believe the headlines, fans mourned his passing like that of a family member, there were even cases of fans committing suicide because they simply couldn’t live on. The outpouring of grief from the Muslim world and Arabs in particular has also shown what a global fan base Jackson truly had.  Read more>>