Our Prophet was a man of fine appearance and attribute, and he had an aesthetic appreciation for beauty. This is notably different from what we see in today's Muslim extremists.
Malala's lack of fear and her clear-eyed commitment to the truth is the mark of one who understands, in the wise words of Abd al Hakim Murad, the fundamental poverty of fanaticism.
The Muslims who murdered Ambassador Christopher Stevens were purportedly defending the name of Prophet Muhammad. But they have done the exact opposite of their intention: tarnished the name of the Prophet in the eyes of the few non-Muslims.
During this auspicious month, we're reminded of the tools to honor God throughout the year. Rather than reboot one time a year, consistent maintenance is good practice for the spirit and contributes to the productivity of our spiritual operating systems beyond Ramadan.
Instead of remaining silent in the face of executions such as the one that Yousef Nadarkhani faces, let alone condoning them, we Muslims should speak out against them forcefully.
In the West, we believe that when someone moves a disagreement from the issue to a personal attack, it is because their case is weak. But can we make that assumption with other cultures?
