History of Islam
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"Iberian Moorings" compares Muslim and Jewish golden ages
Known to Jews, Muslims, and Christians by three different names – Sefarad, al-Andalus, and Hispania, respectively – the Iberian Peninsula has been a centre of fertile intellectual, cultural and spiritual production for multiple religious traditions.
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The alchemy of fasting
Ramadan – a feast for spirit and soul
In Islamic mysticism, Ramadan is more than just a period of prescribed abstinence, signifying an opportunity for inner contemplation. Marian Brehmer explores the spiritual dimensions of the month of fasting against the background of Sufism
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Joseph Croitoru's "Al-Aqsa oder Tempelberg"
Zeroing in on the Middle East conflict
In his latest book – "Al Aqsa oder Tempelberg " – historian Joseph Croitoru traces the struggle for Jerusalem's most holy sites, warning that a storm is brewing in the Temple Mount conflict. Daniel Bax read the book for Qantara.de
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The Sufi Trail
Anatolia through the eyes of a pilgrim
The Sufi Trail is a long-distance hiking route from Istanbul to Konya that seeks to revive the ancient tracks used by foot pilgrims on their way to Mecca. Marian Brehmer spoke to the trail's founder and hiking route developer Sedat Cakir
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Refoming Islam: Muslim and liberal
In our modern world, what constitutes contemporary Islam?
Liberal Islam: everything revolves around the Koran. In the search for a liberal interpretation, peculiar constructs occasionally emerge. By Alexander Flores
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Sectarian strife in Pakistan
Syria's proxy war widens gulf between Sunnis and Shias
After a period of relative calm, the conflict in Syria is reigniting the tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Pakistan: groups from both sects are involved in the clashes in Syria. The authorities fear a new wave of sectarian violence. Background by Mohammad Luqman
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Sufi musik: Qawwali ensemble "Fanna-fi-Allah"
Searching for God's love
Fanna-fi-Allah is the West's most renowned Qawwali ensemble. It stands out not only for its strong stage presence, but also for its commitment to preserving the centuries-old tradition. By Marian Brehmer
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The Persian poetry of mathematics
From Omar Khayyam to Mirzakhani – Iran’s beautiful minds
Presenting a more nuanced vision of their common homeland, Iran, to Western imaginations, kindred spirits Omar Khayyam and Maryam Mirzakhani stand out against the twenty-first century backdrop of anti-Iranian sentiment and Islamophobia. By Hamid Dabashi
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Jewish culture in North Africa
Morocco’s Jews and their legacy
Morocco is aiming to enshrine Judaism as part of its national identity: the "House of Memory" in Essaouira is one step towards realising that goal. The nation’s Jewish legacy has also been added to the national curriculum. Abdessamad Jattioui reports from Essaouira
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"A Slave Between Empires: A Transimperial History of North Africa"
Decolonising Maghreb history
M’hamed Oualdi presents the story of a manumitted-slave-turned-dignitary in the Ottoman province of Tunis and the posthumous conflicts over his estate as a case study to deconstruct the modern history of Tunisia and the wider Maghreb region. Muhammed Nafih Wafy read the book
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Ankara School pioneer and reformist Islamic theologian
The resignation of Turkish Koran exegete Mustafa Ozturk
Professor of theology and Qantara interview partner Mustafa Ozturk has resigned from an Istanbul university after immense pressure from certain segments of the Islamic community, having advocated a version of Islam they deemed "blasphemous". Ayse Karabat reports from Istanbul
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Architecture in Sanaa
As Yemen's mudbrick legacy crumbles before our eyes
Report from a disintegrating world: the early Islamic buildings of Sanaa are suffering from the effects of climate change and war. This world heritage site could be lost forever. By Paul-Anton Kruger