The Rewards and Risks of Islamic Finance
The principles of Islamic finance date to the seventh century. What do they have to offer to the contemporary global financial system?
The Deep Roots of Mughal Tolerance
Under Akbar, the Mughal Empire instituted a policy known as sulh-i kull, which called for amicable reconciliation and tolerance toward all religions.
The International History of “Indigenous” Malay Healers
The origins of Malay and Indonesian dukun healers are intertwined with the history of Persian involvement in the region.
A Mughal Mosque in Kenya
Built for Punjabi migrants brought to Africa by the British and modeled on Mughal architecture, the Jamia Masjid in Nairobi serves Kenya’s Muslim minority.
Dreams in Islam
Even before the founding of Islam, Arabia was home to professional dream interpreters.
The Unique History of the Meo Tribes of Mewat
The Meos are singled out as cow slaughterers by vigilantes, but their heritage combines Hindu cultural practices—including raising cattle—with the Islamic faith.
Isabelle Eberhardt: Travel’s Rebel with a Cause
A hash-smoking, cross-dressing woman traveling the Sahara in the early 1900s, Eberhardt unpicked the fabric of society just by being herself.
Music and Gender in Medieval Islamic Court
As Islam spread across the Arabian peninsula and the Mesopotamian region, it changed the relationship between gender and musicianship.
Life with a Jinni
A jinni in the home can help a Muslim explore religious tenets, but it may also interfere with the direct relationship between human and god.
