Staff Blog
Is Islam a country or a religion? How can we tell the difference?
By Heena Haiderali, Programs Associate This opinion appeared at the ING blog. After 6 months of working at Islamic Networks Group, a nonprofit aimed at improving religious literacy across the country while combatting Islamophobia, I finally feel moved to write about my religion — Islam. Because,… Read More
During Lent, a Christian tries praying 5 times a day
By Kate Chance, Community Engagement Manager. This opinion originally appeared at Religion News Service. While working in the Muslim community the past few years, I’ve grown to question why, as a Christian, I don’t pray more often. For my Muslim friends, their five… Read More
Holy Week, Passover, and Rajab: On our responsibilities toward the stranger
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at a Maundy Thursday foot-washing ceremony in Morgan Hill on Thursday, March 29th, 2018. Salam alaykum/peace be unto you. We are standing here together during a sacred time in many faiths. For Muslims, we are in the… Read More
Escaping Essentialism: Educating Objectively About Islam in a Time of Islamophobia
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This paper was presented at the American Academy of Religion Western Region Conference at the Institute for Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, California on Sunday, March 25th. What follows is an excerpt of the full paper; we will update this article once the full… Read More
Recognizing the Unsung Sheroes of Women’s History Month
By Ameena Jandali, Content Director. This opinion originally appeared at Patheos. Women from time immemorial have been the foundation and sustainers of life and society, giving birth, raising the next generation, preparing the food that keeps us all alive and often risking everything for… Read More
Why working for the Muslim community is the most Christlike aspect of my life
By Kate Chance, Interfaith Manager. This opinion originally appeared at the Christian Citizen. As a cradle Episcopalian, I was raised with a mentality that loving my neighbor and caring for others in my community should be the heart of my faith. Social justice… Read More
American Muslim Teens Speak Out Against School Violence
This opinion appeared at the ING blog. These days, story after story emerges of violence occurring in schools. Whether it’s the result of guns or a few students throwing punches, our schools are not the safe places we would like them to be. Our INGYouth… Read More
Muslim women don’t need saving from their religion
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This opinion originally appeared at Religion News Service. In an average week, I deliver presentations to hundreds of people on various topics related to Islam and Muslims. Oftentimes, such presentations yield real changes in public perception of Muslims, but… Read More
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Being A Good Neighbor
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at the Shia Association of the Bay Area (SABA)’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Interfaith Event on January 14, 2018. Salam alaykum, Martin Luther King, Jr., said about neighbors: “The ultimate measure of a person is… Read More
Trump’s anti-Muslim retweets exemplify schoolyard bullying
By Ishaq Pathan, INGYouth Manager. This opinion originally appeared in USA Today. This week I awoke to news that the president of the United States was retweeting anti-Muslim propaganda videos, the same kind of hateful content trafficked by well-known anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant bigots. The videos… Read More
