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Publisher - Bilal Dabaja

Publisher Bilal Dabaja

Bilal was born in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, and moved to Dearborn, Michigan, at a young age. Growing up, Bilal showed a keen interest in activism and a love for politics, which he became interested in from his father, whom Bilal considers his role model. During his teen years, Bilal became involved in school activism, leading him to work for the cause of Islam. Currently Bilal attends the University of Michigan – Dearborn, where he is majoring in political science and hopes to go to law school. He joined Islamic Insights as a writer and webmaster and became publisher in December of 2007. Bilal has held a number of leadership positions during his stay at the University. He was President of the Thaqalayn Muslim Association as well as the Arab Student Union and was an elected member of Student Government for nearly four years, two of which he served as the Speaker of the Senate. Currently Bilal also attends Islamic seminary classes at the Alqaem Institute and is the founder and director of a non-profit media organization, The Awaited One Foundation. Bilal likes to read, paintball with friends, and build websites in his spare time.

Editor - Arsalan Rizvi

Editor Arsalan Rizvi

Arsalan was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. From an early age, he used to regularly contribute to Masoom, a monthly Urdu-language Shia magazine. He attended high school in the United States, where he served first as staff member and then Editor in Chief of both the high school newspaper and yearbook. He has also written extensively for several local newspapers and magazines, including The Denver Post, The Villager, and Momin magazine. For his work, he has received multiple recognitions from the Colorado High School Press Association. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and history at the University of Denver. He lives with his parents and younger brother in the metro Denver area. In his free time, he enjoys reading and surfing the Internet.

Contributing Writers

Abbas Lakha
Ali Maki
Arsalan Rizvi
Huda Jawad
Madiha Zaidi
Masooma Beatty
Mohammad Rizvi
Rabab Jaffery
Sayedeh Nazeran
Zahra Khimji
Zahra Shahnarad
Zara Syed
Yahya Naqvi

Contributing Scholars

Dr. Liyakat Takim
Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen
Sayyid Baqir Imrani
Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Shaikh Ali Abu Talib
Shaikh Saleem Bhimji

These are the scholars who contribute to the magazine on a regular basis. We also have several scholars around the world who have done "one-time" submissions.

Our History

Islamic Insights was founded by a group of young active Muslims in February of 2007 out of concern that there was a need for a holistic news and lifestyle publication inspired by the ideals of the Quran and Ahlul-Bait.

From the very beginning, a core principle driving Islamic Insights has been a desire to transcend rivalries and prejudices within the broader North American community. For this reason, the publication has always sought to keep an open hand extended to all organizations, activists, clergy members, and religious authorities, but at the same time maintain independence. The publication drew praise and controversy from the very beginning, not shying away from tackling controversial and embarrassing issues while at the same time providing fresh and often funny analyses.

Islamic Insights started out as a humble 8-page black and white bi-weekly, sized as an 8 ½ x 11 newsletter, produced with Microsoft Publisher. The first two print runs averaged 450 copies. Seeing that nearly every copy was getting taken, the team decided to make a major move, moving to a tabloid 11 x 12 format and in full color, designed with professional Quark Xpress software. The publication also increased in size to between 12-16 pages.

IslamicInsights.com was also created, generating valuable exposure towards the holistic approach inspiring the writers and editorial board. Over eight months, Islamic Insights began being shipped to metropolitan locations across North America, eventually gaining 7,000 regular readers.

By now, Islamic Insights had very much grown beyond being a publication only for people of Dearborn, Michigan where it was first based. Agreements and contracts to use syndication pieces by the New America Media and AhlulBait Islamic Mission were also secured at this time.

In September 2007, Islamic Insights increased its publication to be weekly and moved its activities entirely online. The management believed that making the publication weekly was necessary to increase readers. Additionally, much of Islamic Insights' target audience—comprised of many under 40-years of age, the future of the Muslim community—reported that they were just as happy with reading the publication online as in print. Seeing that more than 95% of the operating costs involved would be dropped by becoming online-only, Islamic Insights took the plunge.

In the time since Islamic Insights became a weekly online-only publication, the web site displayed a dramatic increase in visitors as well as more returns. More writers have joined the effort as well, seeking to express and debate the issues which affect them most as North Americans.

Now, as of December 2, 2007, due to their upcoming move abroad, publisher and editor-in-chief Sayed Aatif Ali Bokhari and assistant editor Aliyyah Rizvi are leaving the publication. The publisher position will be assumed by Bilal Dabaja of Dearborn, MI while the editor-in-chief will be Arsalan Rizvi (no relation to Aliyyah) of Denver, CO.

"Working for Islamic Insights has been a tremendous experience spiritually and professionally," said Bokhari. "We poured our hearts into this project and it was a great honor to work with so many sincere, qualified, and dedicated writers."

Bokhari was recently hired as a copy editor at an international daily in Abu Dhabi and will be leaving soon with Aliyyah, his wife. She said she was also excited about the move but would miss working on Islamic Insights.

"I learned a lot working on the newspaper this past year. I have confidence that it will continue to succeed and improve with the new team setup insha-Allah (God willing)," Aliyyah said. "Islamic Insights has always sought to address all areas of life from the Islamic perspective, not just the areas of worship and history. Insha-Allah it will continue with that vision."

Bokhari had strong words of praise for Dabaja and Arsalan. "I've seen tremendous dedication as well as professionalism from these two individuals ever since they started working for Islamic Insights. Islamic Insights has always aimed to be a nonpartisan voice for all lovers of the Quran and Prophet's household. These individuals have shown that they have the integrity to continue that mission."

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