It warms my heart that the “Christmas story” as told in the Bible is also found in the Qur’an. Here it is: The Christmas story begins in Chapter 19, aptly named Mary. The Qur’an (19:16-17) begins, “Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place and kept herself in seclusion…… Continue reading The Christmas Story in the Qur’an
By Roger DeBlanck (@RogerDeBlanck) Acclaimed professor and global speaker Craig Considine follows up his enlightening work The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View with even more valuable historical insights in People of the Book: Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians. His research offers a clarifying view of Muhammad’s remarkable life in order to provide us with…… Continue reading A “Gripping Account” of Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians
What can Prophet Muhammad’s encounters with ancient Christians teach us about today’s relationship between Christianity and Islam? More than you may think, according to Rice University’s Craig Considine, a lecturer of sociology. He examines these interactions in his newest book, People of the Book: Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians. Considine describes the book as biographical…… Continue reading Order “People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians”
Refugee stories are part of our common history. Prophet Muhammad was a refugee. Jesus was a refugee. Mary, his mother, was a refugee. Joseph, too. Moses was a refugee. Abraham was a refugee. Rejecting the most vulnerable among us is an affront to the prophets. How would Muhammad himself approach a refugee crisis? I answered…… Continue reading A Prophetic Call To Welcome Refugees – Muhammad’s Example
PRE-ORDER HERE The publication of The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View has been postponed due to the coronavirus. Originally scheduled to be published on May 1st, 2020, the book is now likely available in August 2020. God willing. Here is the book’s description: “What makes an American Catholic of Irish and Italian descent one…… Continue reading Pre-Order “The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View”
The following article was first published on Newsweek.com. Here is an excerpt: Perhaps most importantly, [Prophet Muhammad] knew when to balance faith with reason. In recent weeks, some have gone so far as to suggest that prayer would be better at keeping you from the coronavirus than adhering to basic rules of social distancing and…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad and Coronavirus: Prayer is Not Enough
On Monday, November 18th, the Moravian community received a special visit from Craig Considine, Ph.D., a Lecturer in the Sociology Department at Rice University in Houston, TX. Flanked by nine students representing the classes of 2020-2023, Dr. Considine engaged in a vivid dialogue revolving around issues of Muslim-Christian relations in front of the fully gathered…… Continue reading Special Dialogue on Christian-Muslim Relations at Moravian Academy
Dr. Craig Considine speaks to Sally Mousa of Life Beats on Pulse 95 Radio in the United Arab Emirates about his personal journey and belief in Prophet Muhammad.
Prophet Muhammad is recognized as the world’s first “anti-racist.” He knew racism was a disease of the heart and mind. He made it clear that no person is superior to another by virtue of race. He was the first person in history to assert that: “An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab… a white…… Continue reading Video: Prophet Muhammad – The World’s First Anti-Racist
The Covenants Initiative is a collection of scholars that is spearheading a movement to promote the Covenants of Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World. This initiative calls Muslims to the Covenants of Muhammad, which command them not to attack, but rather defend peaceful Christians until the end of time. On Saturday evening (November…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants With Christians – An Offering at the Parliament of the World’s Religions
It was an absolute pleasure and honor to spend time with His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya community. On October 26th, 2018, alongside Professor Emran El-Badawi of the University of Houston, we discussed a range of issues, including the Constitution of Medina, embracing humanity, and peace-building. I will never forget…… Continue reading Meeting With Worldwide Leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Recently, Muslims in the United States have been accused of being sympathetic to – or outright supportive of – acts of terrorism carried out in the name of Islam. For instance, a 2018 report issued by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security pictured Muslims as potential domestic terrorist threats. President Donald Trump…… Continue reading Do U.S. Muslims Condemn Terrorism?
What does it mean to be Muslim? It is a striking question, especially when a Catholic – such as myself – considers it after years of research on Muslim-Christian relations. One matter which has struck me in my experiences with Muslims is the sanctity of life that so many of them hold dear in their…… Continue reading The Sanctity of Life and the Legacy of Prophet Muhammad
This is quite the story of forgiveness, arguably one of the main teachings of the Islamic tradition (and Christianity for that matter). The story goes like this: Abraham Davis, 20, was caught on CCTV helping a friend vandalize the Masjid Al Salam in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with racist graffiti in October 2016. Davis was sentenced…… Continue reading Forgiveness in Arkansas – Forgiveness in Islam
Back in 2008, I had the opportunity to meet with Judea Pearl, the father of Daniel Pearl. Following the murder of his son, Judea reached out to people across the United States hoping to counter religious extremism and build bridges of understanding between people of different faith communities. I asked Judea if he could tell…… Continue reading Peacekeeping Vs. Peacemaking: What’s the Difference?
During the Caliphate of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, Muslims started to expand northwards into the lands of the Byzantine Empire. The majority of the Christians in the region were Monophysites, who had a more monotheistic view of God that was similar to what the new Muslims were preaching, as Lost Islamic History notes. “They welcomed Muslim…… Continue reading Why a Muslim Holds the Key to the Holiest Church in Christendom
I am excited to share the new book of John Andrew Morrow (editor), Islam and the People of the Book: Critical Studies on the Covenants of the Prophet. My own chapter in the book focuses on how the Covenants of Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of his time embodied the spirit of religious pluralism. Islam…… Continue reading Islam and the People of The Book: Critical Studies on the Covenants of the Prophet
The History channel’s original drama television series – Vikings – is one of my favorite programs. The world of the Vikings is brought to life through the journey of Ragnar Lodbrok, the first Viking to emerge from Norse legend, and his family members. The television series transports viewers to the mysterious world of Viking farmers…… Continue reading Viking and Muslim Interactions: The Untold Stories
Published by Amy McCaig at Rice University News and Media Islamophobia represents a form of racism mixed with cultural intolerance as a whole, rather than simply intolerance of Muslims and Islam, according to a new paper from a Rice University sociologist. “The Racialization of Islam in the United States: Islamophobia, Hate Crimes and ‘Flying While…… Continue reading Islamophobia Represents a Form of Racism Mixed with Cultural Intolerance
An excerpt from Chapter 5: “The ‘good Muslim’/’bad Muslim’ dichotomy” in Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora (Routledge, 2017) by Craig Considine What do we know of Sufism (Islamic mysticism) and its links to Irish mysticism? To put it simply, not much. ‘Mysticism’ is a type of spirituality aimed at union with the…… Continue reading The Fusion of Sufism and Irish Identity
One afternoon in the summer of 2013, I sat down with a young Ahmadi American Muslim of Pakistani descent. He told me an unsettling story, one that touches on some of the most pressing issues of the post-9/11 era. The young man, henceforth “Muhammad,” was traveling on an Amtrak train along the East Coast. Sitting…… Continue reading Islam, Race, and Pluralism in Diaspora: Experiences of Young Pakistani Men in Boston and Dublin
Since he took his position as the Holy Father in 2013, Pope Francis has consistently encouraged Catholics to engage with Muslims as a means to build bridges of interfaith understanding. His call, however, appears to have fallen on deaf ears. According to a 2016 study by The Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University, only 14% of…… Continue reading Muslims and Catholics Are More Alike Than You Think
In March 2009, President Barack Obama made a startling comment about Pakistan and its links to the so-called “War on Terror.” The President referred to a part of the country as “the most dangerous place in the world.” In other words, Pakistan was a threatening “Islamic state” that had turned “anti-American” due largely to the efforts of…… Continue reading New Book Explores the Pakistani Diaspora in Boston and Dublin
A brief word about these anti-sharia protests happening tomorrow across 28 cities in the U.S.. In short, these protests are totally bogus. The facts show that so-called infiltration of sharia in the American legal system is a non-existent problem or threat. To date, there is not a single Muslim organization calling for sharia to trump the…… Continue reading These Anti-Sharia Protests Are Based on Lies and Conspiracy Theories
By Tayyib Rashid Dr. Craig Considine should be applauded for his effort to learn, understand and educate the public about Pakistanis in diaspora and advancing his relentless pursuit to build bridges of understanding, and tolerance. In doing so Dr. Considine adds another brick to the foundations of inter-racial peace in American society. Islam, Race, and…… Continue reading Muslim Marine Reviews: Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora
Ramadan is almost here. In preparation for my talk on Prophet Muhammad’s relations with Christians at The Islamic Institute/Blue Mosque in Houston on Friday, I prepared this short post on how people can understand the true spirit of Ramadan. Last year, a young Protestant man in college sent me an e-mail with some questions about Christian-Muslim…… Continue reading The Spirit of Ramadan – When the Prophet of Islam Opened the Door of His Mosque For Christians
Prophet Muhammad’s relations with Christians is a topic that I have dedicated a lot of time to researching. I have focused on two primary issues: 1) the Covenants of the Prophet with the Christians of his time, showing how these Covenants stand for religious pluralism and civic national principles, and 2) the visit of the Christians of Najran…… Continue reading When a Priest Recognized the Prophethood of Muhammad
Rice University News and Media has written the first news article about Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora. This book is due to be published on July 11, 2017. Many of the young Pakistani men that I interviewed in Boston and Dublin see Pakistan, their country of origin, as being alien to them, but at the…… Continue reading Rice University News and Media Introduces “Islam, Race, and Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora”
One picture alone shtters the myth that Islam is a new religion in American society. This is the short story of Yarrow Marmood (pictured). He was allegedly born in the late 17th century in West Africa, but other estimates put his birth in the 18th century. Specifically, he was said to have been brought in bondage…… Continue reading One Picture Alone Shatters the Myth that Islam Is a New Religion in America
Muslim “no-go zones” came up as a topic of conversation in my recent lecture to the Good Shepherd Episcopalian community in Kingwood, Texas, not far from Rice University, where I teach a course called “Muslims in American Society.” Early in my talk, an older white Christian man interrupted me. He claimed that “no-go zones,” or…… Continue reading Islamophobes and Their Safe-Spaces Enhancing Dialogue in an Age of Polarization
By now you have heard the news of President Trump’s “Muslim ban,” which puts a freeze on refugee arrivals and visa requests from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The ban is outlined in an Executive Order, ironically titled “Protection of the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” which plays right into the hands of…… Continue reading Trump’s “Muslim Ban” – Another Victory For ISIS
Like many of you, I watched the Inauguration. The one thing that stood out most to me is the benediction, or blessing, after President Trump took the oath of office. A rabbi spoke first, followed by a reverend and then a bishop. Judaism was represented and Christianity too. These religious leaders talked about God, a…… Continue reading Trump’s Benediction Incomplete Without Islam
How much of a threat can fully veiled Muslim women pose? Yasmeen Aftab Ali poses this question at the beginning of her new article in Pakistan Today. In recent years, countries such as France, Bulgaria, Egypt, Chad and Morocco have banned the burqa on the grounds that it poses a “security concern” or that the…… Continue reading The Burqa – To Ban or Not to Ban?
An important article in The News International was published today. It touches on whether Muslims should greet Christians with Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The author of the piece, Aijaz Zaka Syed, was taken aback by the convoluted logic that Muslims are “aping the West” by sending warm greetings to Christians. Syed claims that the…… Continue reading Tolerance Is a Vital Part of the Islamic Faith
“Treat others how you would like to be treated.” That is the Golden Rule. As I have discussed in the Huffington Post, Jesus and Muhammad lived by this Rule. The legacy of Christ and the Prophet teach Christians and Muslims to overcome animosity and bigotry in favor of generosity and coexistence. It is in this spirit that…… Continue reading Christians and Muslims Gather at the Table of Coexistence, Friendship, and Fellowship
If you follow my social media you know that I post regularly on the life of Prophet Muhammad. I have published a peer-reviewed journal article on his relations with Christians, and I have published extensively on his legacy in outlets like Huffington Post, Middle East Eye and Mvslim (also see the search results of “Prophet…… Continue reading Praise of Prophet Muhammad Among Noteable Non-Muslims
Writing for the Daily O, Moin Qazi claims that Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon, delivered on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the tenth year of hijrah (632 AC), has key lessons for our time. In the sermon, the prophet of Islam stressed universal human values such as sacredness of life and property, equality, justice,…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon Has Key Lessons For Our Time
Before you read any further, note this: I understand that not all Trump fans condone Islamophobia, understood broadly as a set of assumptions by which an individual or group holds and promotes anti-Islam or anti-Muslim sentiments. Here is a case in point – some of my friends voted for Trump. Do I think they are…… Continue reading What If “Moderate” Trump Fans Were Asked To Condemn Islamophobia?
Three students in my “Muslims in American Society” course at Rice University wanted to learn more about why young Muslim women do – and do not – cover. To explore this issue of covering the students interviewed four of their peers. Here is a passage from one of the four interviews: When I come to…… Continue reading Muslim Women at Rice University Explain Why They Do – And Do Not – Cover
Islamic teaching does not justify the Islamic State’s (ISIS) persecution of Christians, based on a study on Prophet Mohammed’s previously untranslated writing. Rice University professor Dr. Craig Considine, who authored a study on Prophet Mohammed’s writings from 622 to 632 AD, says the writings indicate that Christians who lived in Arabic communities were protected. Considine says…… Continue reading Islamic Teaching Does Not Justify ISIS Persecution of Christians, Study Says
The “monolith” of Muslim identity is a dangerous misconception when applied to Muslim women. By suggesting that all Muslims experience their identity in similar ways, the unique experiences of Muslim women are erased from the conversations regarding identity. Instead, their experiences and identity formation should be appreciated through the “double disadvantage” they hold as their…… Continue reading Breaking the Monolith of Muslim Identity: Experiences of Muslim Women
Rice Magazine (Summer, 2016: p. 19) wrote a short piece on my research paper on Prophet Muhammad’s covenants with Christians. Author Amy McCaig wrote: “Prophet Muhammad believed that freedom of religion and civic rights were important components of a ‘Muslim nation,’ according to a new analysis of the prophet’s covenants with Christians. Research by Rice…… Continue reading From Islamic History, Lessons on Religious Freedom
Students in my “Muslims in American Society” course at Rice University have produced some excellent material to counter the Islamophobia industry. Here is the latest peace on dismantling the idea that “jihad means violence.” I highly recommend that you read the entire blog. A few passages to get you started… “I think all of us recognize…… Continue reading Jihad: Striving for Peace
Students in my “Muslims in American Society” course at Rice University are writing blog posts over the course of the semester. Small groups have been assigned on students’ areas of interest including Islamophobia, jihad, Christian-Muslim relations, Islam and hip-hop, and Muslims in the 2016 presidential election. Here is the first blog post titled “Unpacking Islamophobia:…… Continue reading Unpacking Islamophobia: History, Politics and Industry
Imam Wazir Ali and Imam Qasim Ahmed came to guest lecture in my “Muslims in American Society” course at Rice University. Earlier in the week, I covered the rise of the Nation of Islam and the life of Elijah Mohammed as well as Malcolm X. Naturally we had to move on to the legacy of Imam…… Continue reading Video: The Legacy of Imam WD Mohammed
The Religion and Public Life Program held a panel in an effort to address common misconceptions about the Islamic faith on Thursday. The panel consisted of three guests: Imam Wazir Ali, the imam of two mosques in Houston; Craig Considine, lecturer of sociology at Rice University and M. Hasna Maznavi, founder and president of the…… Continue reading Panel Addresses Misconceptions of Islamic Faith
A big thank you to the Muslim Council of Hong Kong for shedding more light on my research and spiritual/intellectual growth. Here is what they have to say: Dr. Craig Considine, a Catholic Irish, is a well-known sociologist at Rice University in Houston, USA. Last year, he tweeted about 9/11 and Prophet Muhammad. A tweet…… Continue reading 9/11 Made Me Hate Prophet Muhammad, But Now He’s My Role Model, Says a Catholic
Here is a slightly different perspective of what I will #NeverForget about 9/11. Before I do that, I want to say that I grieve the loss of all souls that passed away on that day, and every other day where humanity crumbles because of outrageous acts of mass murder. My heart goes out to the…… Continue reading What I Will Never Forget About 9/11
“Armed and Vigilant: In Fear of a Muslim Uprising in Texas.” That is that title of a recent Al Jazeera mini-documentary on YouTube. The clip delves into the inflammatory anti-Muslim sentiment bubbling up in Texas. In the video, Tania Rashid, an Al Jazeera reporter, talks to David Wright, a member of the Bureau on American-Islamic…… Continue reading Teaching “Muslim Americans” in Texas, the Hotbed of Islamophobia
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