French Muslims divided over when to start Ramadan

Muslims in France are once again in doubt over the exact date that the holy month of Ramadan begins, with two competing schools of thought on how the date should be decided.   The holy month of Ramadan – during which observant Muslims fast by day, eat in the hours of darkness and celebrate the…

Share Button
Read More

Why Muslims in Anchorage will fast 9 hours more than Muslims in Cape Town (and what one imam is doing about it)

(RNS) When the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan begins later this week, some Muslims around the world will face bigger challenges than others. The Quran is clear that the fast should last from before dawn to after dusk, but says nothing about how many hours that might be. Since Islam has spread from its Arabian…

Share Button
Read More

Cruz Rejects Call to Drop Anti-Shariah Activist in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign is rejecting a call to drop an anti-Shariah activist as his state chairman for Tennessee. Kevin Kookogey, a former chairman of the Williamson County GOP, once criticized Republican Gov. Bill Haslam over the role of a Muslim staffer and a council that has advised two state departments…

Share Button
Read More

Supreme Court rules against Abercrombie in hijab case

The Supreme Court ruled that companies cannot discriminate against job applicants or employees for religious reasons, even if an accommodation is not requested. The decision was a defeat for preppy clothier Abercrombie & Fitch, which refused to hire a Muslim girl in 2008 because she was wearing a black hijab, or head scarf. It could…

Share Button
Read More

Exam Commission needs to make decision on Muslim students who refuse examination by males

Two medical Muslim students at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam asked for exemption from a practice where they were supposed to be examined by at least one man and one woman. The women didn’t want to be touched by a man. Their request for exemption was however refused by the director of the study. The Appeals…

Share Button
Read More