There is no arguing that Islam, being a religion of justice and equality, has zero tolerance for racism. The religion seeks to root out every form of racial prejudice and discrimination through various means, congregational prayers being a stark reminder where Muslims stand in rows, shoulder to shoulder as brothers in faith, where no distinction is made by race, ethnicity, or social standing. As it is stated quite clearly in the Qur'an, "Verily, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous, the most God-conscious among you." (49:13)

Writing in the prestigious British medical journal "The Lancet" in early 2009, Dr. Gilbert provided clinical details of the slaughter, including the destruction of ambulances and medical facilities that tend to the dying and the wounded.

The recent killing of Shaima alAwadi in California has united organizations across many different demographics to condemn the brutal killing of a mother of five in what authorities believe was a hate crime. It truly makes a great statement when non-Muslim organizations condemn the killing of a Muslim woman and call for her killer to be brought to justice, while our own community organizations and laymen focus only on cases with Muslims. The voices of Shaima alAwadi and others like her are voices lost in the media circus surrounding race, religion, and stereotypes. Imagine just how many other individuals and communities have had to suffer from discrimination and oppression, and the world was never made aware? If we wish for others to become aware of our cases and suffering, we must make a substantial effort – as individuals, groups, and organizations – to support the oppressed no matter where or who they may be.

When we analyze history, we will find that there are numerous occasions where the female offspring have brought special honor to the family till the end of time. For example, the birth of Lady Maryam was a unique blessing and honor for the family of Imran.

Newly married couples should definitely take advantage of marriage counseling from a religious scholar or even from secular sources in order get help in meeting the challenges of marriage. There are however some simple things couples can do to keep their marriage strong and lively. One major challenge to overcome is time management. When we are single, we have plenty of time to perform our obligations and pursue any extra-curricular activities we desire. Once married, time management becomes an issue, as time must be given to family, friends, work, the community, and recreational activities. Both husband and wife must plan ahead and learn how to spend their time wisely.

When it comes to service in religious matters, such as delivering Islamic lectures and reciting at the mourning gatherings of Imam Hussain, it is not befitting from a moral and spiritual perspective for a scholar to demand a huge compensation, because ultimately, it is his obligation to provide spiritual nourishment to the community. Also, doing so certainly takes away from the dignity of the scholar and goes against the etiquette of a respected Aalim. A scholar is benefited from and taken as a spiritual guide not just because the amount of knowledge he carries, but equally importantly because of the way he carries himself in his behavior and the self-respect which he invites towards himself based on his apparent actions and lifestyle.

Kids also have to be taught how to behave and respond to bullies. Teaching kids how not to respond with anger is important, so that the cycle does not continue. Yes, it is important for kids to be able to defend themselves, but teaching kids to be rude back will not help them develop into problem-solvers; rather, they will just learn how to respond aggressively. When kids learn to be problem-solvers, they will be able to define their problem, converse in a respectful manner, and create solutions. If parents only teach their kids to run away from the problem or fight back, then the kids will not develop into strong problem-solvers.

Any country seen as legitimately striving for independence finds itself on the receiving end of military intervention and total destruction under the age old mantra of democracy and human rights. That sounds understandable, until one realizes that when it came to Egypt, Libya, and Syria, the United States and its Western allies called for those countries' leaders to step down in the interest of democracy and freedom. What happens in Bahrain? The State Department issued gentle and kind reminder that asked Bahrain to "exercise restraint and operate within the rule of law and international judicial standards." Restraint and judicial standards? Isn't that what all dictators are about anyway?

Two respected scholars and jurists of the Muslim world passed away last recently. Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Shahabadi returned to his Lord on Saturday, January 7, whereas Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Milani bade farewell to this world on Wednesday, January 11.

Statistics from the Bahraini Uprising that will help understand why the population of Bahraini is standing up to the ruling family in power.