Mideast Culture

Egyptian Media: The Old and the New

For Egyptians as for news consumers everywhere, it’s about more than just the stories.

It’s how we get the stories. During the 18-day uprising last year, you’ll hear the rote anecdotes of how most Egyptians were glued to their TV-screens and one screen in particular: Al Jazeera. In contrast to the lethargic and often absurd propaganda spewing from the state-owned media apparatus, channels such as Al Jazeera and Al-Arabiyah were among the few sources of reliable information for just what the fuss was all about with the young people on the streets.

Is Interest Really Banned in Islam?

For most Muslims, interest is taboo in Islam, thanks to the interpretation of the Quran’s position on it generally offered by Muslim scholars. However, a number of other Muslim scholars distinguish between riba forbidden in the Quran and interest used in modern finance, contending that while the former is clearly unethical and unacceptable, the latter is a legitimate charge.

An Afternoon With Bassem Youssef: The Egyptian Jon Stewart

A feeling of hushed expectancy and formality hung over the crowd until a slightly scruffy, curly headed guy dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans sprang lightly onto the stage. He rested his arm around the microphone stand as though it was his best friend’s shoulder and began, “Why do we do this event? We do this event to bring people together.” It was as if he had opened the door to his home and the entire audience was suddenly family.

Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Islamic Banking

Islamic banking has made rapid inroads in Muslim countries and spread to other regions with sizeable Muslim populations, growing 15 percent annually in the recent decade. Its increasing popularity has even led some large Western banks to open Islamic windows. According to some estimates, there are currently more than 300 Islamic banking institutions worldwide spread in over 50 countries.

On the Dearborn Drama: Pig-Headed Engagement of Islam

At a recent festival held annually by Dearborn’s Muslim community, it was reported that a group of Christian missionaries disrupted the event as they engaged in responses that challenged deeply valued Islamic ideals. This included holding up signs that attacked Islam’s prophet Muhammad, shouting at Muslims participating in the festival, and hoisting a pig’s head on a pole, an animal considered unclean by Muslims. Less tense forms of engagement also reportedly took place, such as the sharing of evangelistic literature outside the largest mosque in Michigan.