Mid-August marks the start of the holy month of Ramadan, when hundreds of millions of Muslims will fast from dawn to dusk; for the faithful, that also means no daytime arguing, cursing, or sex. But it’s not all about pious asceticism. Ramadan is a world-moving force in its own right — an unpredictable time of rampant consumerism, surprising conflict, and political skulduggery.

  http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/culture/2012/07/al-azhar-islam-did-not-impose-th.html   Al-Azhar University has awarded Sheikh Mustafa Mohammad Raashed a doctorate in Shariah and law with honors. His thesis discussed the hijab (veil) within Islamic jurisprudence. He asserted that the hijab “is not an Islamic obligation.” ABOUT THIS ARTICLE Summary: In a landmark doctoral dissertation, Sheikh Mustafa Mohammad Raashed says his studies found […]