Browsing by Subject "Muslim"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Dante and Islam: A Study of the Eastern Influences in the Divine Comedy
    (2016-07-01) McCambridge, Jeffrey B.; Hoegberg, David
    In Dante’s Divine Comedy he makes multiple direct references to Islam and Muslims, but there is debate about the amount of influence, if any, Islam had on him while composing his masterwork. This paper attempts to show how the poet, consciously or unconsciously, responded to Islam as a theological and political threat. This is done through analysis of Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Crusader leader who was well respected in Europe in Dante’s era; analyzing the Prophet Muhammad’s suffering in Canto XXVIII; and comparing the Divine Comedy to the Prophet Muhammad’s own Night Journey, the al-Isrā wa al-Mi’rāj with a brief discussion on how Mi’rāj texts might have reached Dante.
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    Fostering Muslim Civic Engagement through Faith-Based Community Organizing
    (2017) Fulton, Brad R.
    Muslims often encounter discriminatory practices similar to those experienced by other minority groups living in the United States. Such practices range from mass incarceration and anti-immigration efforts to racial and religious profiling. In response, a growing number of U.S. Muslim leaders are organizing their communities and collaborating with non-Muslims to address these issues through civic participation and political action. At the same time, several foundations throughout the country have begun asking how to promote civic engagement among U.S. Muslims. Although little is known about U.S. Muslim civic engagement and its outcomes, data from a national study indicate that faith-based community organizing is becoming a viable pathway for Muslim communities to (1) strengthen themselves internally by developing civic leaders and mobilizing everyday Muslims to address issues affecting their community and (2) strengthen their external ties by bridging religious and social differences and by promoting policies that also benefit non-Muslims.
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    Muslim Philanthropy Institute's 2023 Impact Report
    (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2024-04) School of Philanthropy, Indiana University Lilly Family
    MPI’s projects and research are driving key decisions of Muslim nonprofits and its work has deeply enriched the Muslim nonprofit and philanthropic sector. This report is a testament to MPI's impact and the progress made by it towards its mission in 2023.
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    Women's Perspectives on Social Change in Saudi Arabia
    (2020-08) Alhajri, Wafa; Khaja, Khadija; Pierce, Barbara; Adamek, Margaret E.; Seybold, Peter
    There are significant social and policy changes that have been made in Saudi Arabia. Some of these changes are relevant to women’s lives. The changes related to the male guardianship system are crucial. Saudi women are restricted by the male dominant culture and face obstacles that hold them accountable to their male guardians. The male guardianship system is tied to heritage, culture, and traditionally ingrained mindsets. This exploratory qualitative study provided a more comprehensive understanding of women’s narratives by focusing on the deep meaning about the effects of the male guardianship system on women’s lives in Saudi Arabia. Sixteen women were interviewed. The finding found that the majority of Saudi women did not perceive the guardianship system as protective or helping women by any means and many had questions about its purpose and relevance. Regarding the legal concept, most women were ambivalent because of recent policy reforms that the government had promised, yet had not implemented it when the data was collected. The religious beliefs surrounding the male guardianship system also varied according to which religious interpretation women and their families followed. The traditional beliefs of the male guardianship system differed among women due to social values which differed from one family to another. This study showed the persistent need to raise awareness among women and men to deconstruct the Saudi culture and reshape the values and norms where women can be respected as individuals so that they could govern their own lives. The findings also showed that the new younger generation in Saudi Arabia are more willing to challenge the Saudi culture and tradition for a better future. They are inspired by the Saudi vision 2030 and the social changes that took place a few years ago to benefit women, extending work opportunities, education, enabling women to do government paperwork themselves, and allowing women to drive and travel without male permission. All these reforms are promising for a better future, but more work, more women voices, and more discussion is needed.