Editorial
A Very High Peak To Climb On Sunday, I requested a friend of mine to babysit my two young boys so I could attend my cousin’s wedding. A few days later, I called the same friend, this time so I could attend the funeral of my d
Issue 93
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Souls of Immortality
Immortal souls always preserve their vitality, and in every season, they show a different sign of life. They never wither or fade away; they never lose their vigor. Neither the setting sun or the fading moon, nor the passing days
Cancer: Cellular Anarchy
Cancer is a complex disease, claiming millions of lives every year. There is no single type of cancer. However, all types of cancer have one thing in common—anarchy. It is noteworthy and insightful to compare micro-worlds to mac
Contemplative Practices: A Comprative Perspective On Different Faith Traditions
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! …For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
From Mexican Jumping Beans to Cyborg Plants
According to Merriam Webster, cybernetics is the science of communication and control theory that is particularly concerned with the comparative study of automatic control systems, such as the nervous system, brain and mechanical-
Cooking and World Peace
In the summer of 2007, I traveled to Turkey for ten days as a member of an International Interfaith Dialogue (IID) group from Little Rock, AR. The tour included sightseeing at various historical sites, a visit to Ankara, the capit
The Wisdom Behind the Crumbling of Rocks
The earth is composed of huge and interdependent masses of rocks. We can only comprehend this during rock formations that occur as a result of the earth’s tectonic movements. The rock masses that make up the earth contains vario
Islamic Philosophy of Science
Attempting to answer questions of agency, causality and universality from an Islamic perspective is called the “Islamic philosophy of science.” In answering these questions from an Islamic perspective, there are hundreds of ve
Culture of Coexistence: Exemplary Cases of Relationship between Muslims and Non-Muslims
Imam Sarahsi narrates an incident which is exemplary of Islam’s policy with respect to non-Muslims. Imam Abu Yusuf, the chief justice of the Muslim state when the Abbasids enjoyed the zenith of their power, is narrated as utteri
A Slap on the Beach
The tropical Kamilo Beach on the Big Island of Hawaiian Archipelago should be a scenic place with white sands and crystal clear waters. However it is laden with tons of human made objects that have floated across the ocean and bee
Qurb and Bu'd (Nearness and Remoteness)
Nearness (qurb) means that one transcends corporeality in order to acquire perfect spirituality and proximity to God. Some interpret it as God's proximity to His servants; however, this is not accurate. God is near to His servants
Recurring DNA in Genome Structure
A genome is a data book or registry which records the past and future of living organisms. It dynamically and simultaneously stores hereditary and biological information in three different hierarchical levels belonging to three di
Butterfly Effect
You had to build the cocoon as your sanctuary In order to find your new self in tranquility As you transformed, the sanctuary became the enemy Demolishing your home turned out to be your first duty Don’t worry, you will be
A Blessing Behind an Unlikely Veil: Vomiting as a Healthy Human Reflex
Being one of the most important human reflexes, vomiting is the phenomenon of spewing out, through the mouth and nose, the contents of the stomach and intestines in the form of strong convulsions. Vomiting is among the very early
A Subject of the Divine Promises: Ishmael
The family story of Ishmael is one of the ten family histories into which the book of Genesis is arranged. This history of Ishmael shows the fulfillment of the promises made by his parents regarding him, and how his mother Hagar h
Don’t Let Me Down
As we enjoy and appreciate so many things in life, hair is usually among the blessings most of us take for granted. Although it might be difficult a task to “count your blessings” in the literal sense, one can still pay tribut
Nanomedicine : A Novel Paradigm to Medicine
Nowadays, we have been accustomed to hear “nano-something,” and we hardly pay any attention to what this really means to us in our daily life. From the perspective of material science, nanoscience or nanotechnology deals with
Surrendering to God: Understanding Islam in the Modern Age
Surrendering to God: Understanding Islam in the Modern Age Eren Tatari Tughra Publications, 2012 In this post-9/11 world, the word "Muslim" conjures up many images and has many connotations. Real knowledge or understanding
Questioning Techniques and Wait Time
Socrates is the first known philosopher to have used questioning in a systematic way with an ethical purpose in mind. Famous Socratic dialogue takes place between Socrates and Meno in which they discuss human virtue—whether or n
Historical Recurrences
Question: Taking into account the notion that history repeats itself, how should we view recent incidents and events that are taking place in our world today? Indeed, the world has once again stepped into a zone of spiritual
Science Square
Wright GA et al. Caffeine in Floral Nectar Enhances a Pollinator's Memory of Reward. Science, 2013; 339 (6124): 1202 Caffeine is thought to be a repellent defense chemical in the plant kingdom but a recent study showed for the f
