Actually, it’s long overdue. Think back to your high school Geography classes, where you probably had a map of the world stuck to the wall. Maybe, like me, you gazed longingly at the map, wishfully thinking of the adventures you would like to have instead of being stuck in a classroom. I must have enjoyed Geography, since I …
Ramadan in the Caribbean 2020
Very soon, Muslims across the Caribbean will scan the skies in search of the crescent moon. The appearance of the ‘new’ moon will usher in the blessed month of Ramadan. On the white sandy beaches in Barbados and several other Caribbean islands, from Grenada in the South to the islands of the Bahamas in the North, groups of Muslims will …
Five must-read journals by legendary Muslim travellers
“Have they not travelled over the land so that they may have hearts by which they may apply reason, or ears by which they may hear?” Surah al Hajj (The Pilgrimage), Quran 22: 46 Muhammad Asad, Evliya Celebi, Ibn Fadlan, Ibn Battuta, Ibn Khaldun. Each of these figures has left a legacy whose impact is greater than the hundreds of …
A brief Islamic history of plagues in light of Coronavirus
Photo: amooorah93/Instagram Wherever you are in the world right now, there’s a high probability that you have seen the 24/7 news headlines about the novel coronavirus, AKA Covid-19. At the time of writing, 182 countries and territories have been infected with coronavirus. On 11th March 2020 the World Health Organisation officially declared the outbreak a pandemic, and many countries are …
Bosnia: The Ottoman Legacy
Bosnia: The Ottoman Legacy Not many know about Bosnia’s Ottoman legacy. Only 10 years after Sultan Mehmet al Fatih entered Constantinople and established the rule of Islam, he entered Bosnia Herzegovina and established Ottoman rule. The country is today a treasure trove of Ottoman Islamic heritage. Bosnia’s capital city, Sarajevo, was once one of the most prosperous cities in the …
Islam in Cape Town: a road trip
Unspoilt natural beauty. Three words which, to me, describe Cape Town perfectly. I have never before visited a destination which has the perfect balance between being a thriving metropolitan city with a hiking-friendly mountain range, that is fringed by a shoreline of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The activities in Cape Town are limitless and being bored is …
5 facts you didn’t know about the iconic Stari Most
If visiting Mostar hasn’t made your bucket list yet, find out why it should, starting with this iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stari Most. 1.The bridge has no foundations The story goes that Stari Most was held together with metal pins and egg whites, and to this day remains an unusual yet impressive design. The bridge was commissioned by one …
Part II – Andalucia: Resurrecting a lost story
This is the second half of a two-part series that sees British Muslim travel writer, Soumaya, explore the cultural legacy of Andalucia. For Part I click here. He was known as ‘Blackbird’ for his colour and melodious voice, and his name was Ziryab. If, like me, you live in Europe, chances are you may never have heard of him; a …
Andalucia: Resurrecting a lost story
Arrival in Andalucia The Byzantine ambassador enters through an enormous ebony door, onto a long red carpet that stretches over the marble floor. He begins his walk towards the Sultan’s quarters, past bronze griffins and yet more marble, this time in the form of fountains gushing forth crystal clear water. He is admitted through a door intricately carved of ivory, …