Between Muhammad Ali and Me
Strange as it might seem, growing up, I used to think that young Cassius Clay — or Muhammad Ali — was Bengali. It made perfect sense in my 8-year-old imagination.… Continue reading "Between Muhammad Ali and Me"
Category: Features
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Exodus of Smoke
Inspector Hyder lit a cigarette, he knew it was illegal to smoke in private property other than one’s own, but he smoked anyway. It was one of those idiosyncratic rules… Continue reading "Exodus of Smoke"
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I, Relic: the story of my grandfather and the Bengalis of the East End
Whenever I walk towards the Brick Lane Mosque in the east end of London I always look at it as a continuation of a Dicken’s novel; from the Artful Dodger… Continue reading "I, Relic: the story of my grandfather and the Bengalis of the East End"
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The Caliph of Lisson Green
Muhammad al-Rifai was an unassuming figure who ended up as the nominal leader of the Muslim world. Opportunities to meet a caliph are pretty rare. Yet in London in the… Continue reading "The Caliph of Lisson Green"
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The Pandemic Century: one hundred years of panic, hysteria and hubris- Book Review
In some ways you could forgive politicians and doctors even, who were blindsided by the Covid-19. Most of us were like that, it’s just the flu’s ugly sister, nothing to… Continue reading "The Pandemic Century: one hundred years of panic, hysteria and hubris- Book Review"
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The Reluctant Roadman: the true story of children enslaved in Britain’s county lines
Momodou* is beautiful. At seventeen he is a super-middle weight but as he grows into full manhood, he will box quite comfortably as a light-heavy weight. As of yet he… Continue reading "The Reluctant Roadman: the true story of children enslaved in Britain’s county lines"
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Problems in the Caliphate: The Issue of Authority
Abstract: For Muslims in the West especially those who become militant, the question of authority or the lack of it, is an important question. I will use the story of… Continue reading "Problems in the Caliphate: The Issue of Authority "
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A Glimpse into Performance Art in the Muslim World: A Clash of the Profane and the Sacred
Cultural historians have often focused attention on Islam’s achievements in architecture, craftsmanship and calligraphy. However, except for poetry scant attention has been given to Islamic culture’s contribution to performance art:… Continue reading "A Glimpse into Performance Art in the Muslim World: A Clash of the Profane and the Sacred"
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Crossing into Syria to Take up the Fight
The article first appeared in the New Internationalist in Feb 2013. * Ahmed looks out of place in Antakya. His walk still has traces of the London streets; the tattoo… Continue reading "Crossing into Syria to Take up the Fight"
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Soul and the City- words from graffiti artist Mohammed Ali
Interview with Mohammed Ali first appeared in the New Internationalist reproduced with kind permission in the December issue 2012. What are your early memories of Graffiti? Flicking through Subway Art by Martha… Continue reading "Soul and the City- words from graffiti artist Mohammed Ali"