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Mohammed Abed al-JabriPioneering Figure in a New Arab Enlightenment
The Moroccan philosopher Mohammed Abed Al-Jabri has died at the age of 76. His death robs the Arab world of one of its most influential critical voices in the debate over identity, history and politics. An obituary by Sonja Hegasy
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Muhammad Iqbal
A Spiritual Bridge between East and West
To this day, activists of various political hues still draw on the thinking of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's spiritual father and influential 20th-century philosopher, to such an extent that he also looks set to play a significant role in the future of the country. Stephan Popp introduces the man known as the "Scholar"
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Germany's Islam Conference
State Islam Would Be Unconstitutional
The Muslims will have to organise if they want to ensure themselves of a place within the system of constitutional law on religion. In order to conduct negotiations on religious matters the neutral state requires someone to talk to. A commentary by canon lawyer Hans Michael Heinig
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Tamim Ansary: "Destiny Disrupted"
World History from an Islamic Perspective
Afghan-born Tamim Ansary has written a history of the world that takes Islam as its central focus. Events are related from a Muslim point of view, beginning with the life of the Prophet through to September 11th, 2001. Review by Klaus Heymach
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Interview with Nadeem Aslam
"Within Three or Four Years the Texture of Pakistani Life Changed"
In this interview with Claudia Kramatschek, Nadeem Aslam talks about his native Pakistan, the military rule of Zia ul-Haque, and his most recent novel, about Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion
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Interview with Olivier Roy
"Full Equality before the Law for All Religions"
French political scientist Olivier Roy is one of the foremost European experts on Islam. His new book, "Holy Ignorance. When Religion and Culture Diverge", will soon be published in English. Eren Güvercin spoke with Roy about the current Islam debate in Europe
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Jewish and Muslim mysticism
Jewish mystics on the Sufi path
The Middle East conflict has dug deep trenches of enmity between Jews and Muslims. That makes it easy to forget that, for centuries, the two religions contributed much to each other's philosophy and spirituality. Nimet Seker looks at the influence of Muslim Sufism on Jewish mysticism
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IslamOnline Dispute
End of the Dialogue?
At the beginning of March, IslamOnline.net was one of the most successful websites in the Middle East. Now the editorial team are locked in a power struggle with their Islamist financial backers in Qatar. Alfred Hackensberger reports
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Online Sex Shop for Muslims
Sharia-conform Eroticism from Amsterdam
Abdelaziz Aouragh opened the world's first halal shop for sexual enhancement products. It is but one indication that many young Muslims are charting their own course in managing adherence to a faith whose sexual morals historically have been interpreted by arch conservatives. James M. Dorsey reports
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Islamic Manuscripts from Mali
From Holes in the Sand to a Digital Library
Forgotten, stolen and now rediscovered: In West African Timbuktu, families have maintained thousands of Islamic manuscripts down the centuries. Private individuals such as Abdelkader Haidara are now working to protect and digitise this African library heritage. By Charlotte Wiedemann
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"Wasla" – Egypt's Magazine for Bloggers without Blogs
Experiments on Paper
Internet blogs are today taking on increasing importance in Egypt. But many readers simply don't have the time to do so much reading online. The new blog magazine "Wasla" is setting out to change that. Haytham Abdelathim presents the first issue
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Tribute to the British Muslim Gai Eaton
Glamour and Humility
Gai Eaton, or Sidi Hasan, which was his Muslim name, was a diplomat, author and one of Britain's most influential convert Muslims. In his nearly 60 years as a Muslim he proved that British values are very much compatible with Islamic ones, writes Kristiane Backer in her tribute to a friend
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Uncovering Portugalʹs Islamic roots
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Pew Research Center study
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The Persian poetry of mathematics
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Syria's cultural heritage under threat
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