In an effort to curb foreign influence and foster integration, the German government is pressing for imams to be educated locally, in Germany. But will its Muslim communities back the idea? By Seda Serdar & Deger AkalMore
With the first in a series of 17 planned commentaries on the Koran, editor Mouhanad Khorchide from the University of Munster builds a bridge between traditional readings of the Koran and modern scholarly interpretation. Musa Bagrac read the bookMore
Mosul's Jewish quarter miraculously survived three years of occupation by the Islamic State terror group and the battle to evict it. Judit Neurink and Eddy van Wessel went there to find out howMore
"Where is your bint from?" is not an unusual question in Lebanon. 'Bint' means girl in Arabic, but here refers to housekeepers, maids or nannies working in Lebanon under kafala sponsorship. It is a loaded term that refers to thousands of African and Asian workers arriving in Lebanon every year. By Antoine Abou-DiwanMore
The Amazigh claim that the regimes of Bourguiba and Ben Ali stole their finest asset, namely their culture. Is Tunisiaʹs Jasmine revolution on the way to restoring their rights? By Lina ShanakMore
Frankfurtʹs Museum for Applied Art is currently hosting an exhibition on Muslim fashion. Heavily criticised for going ahead with the show, curator Matthias Wagner K explains how political fashion can be. Interview by Stefan DegeMore
The question of whether religious texts are interpreted in a tolerant or a hostile way is closely tied to the historical context in which the interpretation takes place. The responsibility for terrorism lies first and foremost with people and not with the religious texts themselves, says Assem Hefny, a lecturer at Al-Azhar UniversityMore
A recently published anthology – "Eure Heimat ist unser Albtraum" – edited by Fatma Aydemir and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah is both accusatory and motivational. Ceyda Nurtsch read the declaration and attended the launchMore
The presentation in the media of the outstanding success stories of refugees in certain professions or in their studies misses the mark, in the opinion of Syrian author Housamedden Darwish. He believes that life after flight and integration into a new society should not be represented as some kind of testMore
Following last Friday's attacks, German Muslims are worried that their places of worship may be targeted too. Christoph Strack writes that there is a simple way for non-Muslims to show solidarityMore
Countless cultural assets were destroyed by the Syrian Civil War. The Syrian Heritage Archive Project in Berlin contributes to preserving their memory with an exhibition showing what has been lost – and what remains. By Christina KufnerMore
Ever since the Iranian Revolution Saudi Arabia has pushed a hardline Wahhabist model of religiosity, both in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in the West, in an attempt to prevent Shia expansionism. Yet Berlinʹs security concerns over Salafist extremism in Germany could easily re-ignite latent tensions with Riyadh. By Mahmoud JarabaMore
Azerbaijan is struggling to change the mind-sets of families aborting female foetuses. Imams who have weighed in on the issue have become indispensable in up-ending this practice. Experts say the country urgently needs to implement an action plan or it will face dire consequences. Ayse Karabat reports from BakuMore
Ever since the 2016 attempted coup in Turkey, an increasing number of well-educated people are leaving the country and settling in Berlin. However, they do not want to have anything to do with the so-called "guest worker Turks". Ceyda Nurtsch on a relationship informed by prejudice, aversion and ignoranceMore
On Christmas Eve 2014 Michael Blume asked his wife Zehra whether he should help a thousand women and children, victims of IS violence, leave northern Iraq. After all, sheʹd been known to say yes to all kinds of questions in the past. Andreas Malessa recounts the story of their unusual relationshipMore
Cultural arrogance has long been a feature of Western journalism and it continues to flourish. But can journalists really describe the world from the perspective of a Yemeni housewife, a shepherdess in Bhutan or an elderly Senegalese fisherman? By Charlotte WiedemannMore
Desperately seeking migrants? Teachers, policemen, tax officials – new Germans are in great demand, especially in the public sector. But despite better career opportunities, they continue to face significant prejudice. Astrid Prange reportsMore
Not long ago women in Turkey fought to cover their hair, yet now it seems the headscarf has fallen out of favour. Seventeen years into Erdoganʹs rule, some things are floundering – including the assumption that Turkish society is becoming increasingly conservative. By Christiane SchlotzerMore
To ensure the interests of women are also taken into account in the peace talks with the Taliban, they must participate on an equal footing in the negotiations, their organisation and the implementation of the peace process. By Anne-Marie Slaughter and Ashley JacksonMore
Despite the political conflicts, a Christian Arab family has been successfully brewing beer in the Palestinian territories for about 25 years. The brewery takes both Muslim and Jewish dietary stipulations into account. Jamal Saad paid a visitMore
For more than 10 years, Pascal Mannaerts has been travelling the globe as a freelance photographer. Seeking to do justice to the beauty, elegance and grace of Islamic monuments, he has compiled a selection of his favourite shots taken in Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East.
Sermon given by Imam Gamal Fouda of the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch
It is one week since the deadly attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Imam Gamal Fouda of the Al Noor mosque gave this sermon during Friday prayers held in Hagley Park.More
Jose Casanova: The principles of religious pluralism
Specifying three principles, religious sociology expert Jose Casanova from Georgetown University argues that tolerance needs to begin with the recognition of religious diversity and plurality.More
Berlin's first public Arabic library
Meet the Syrian student keeping Arabic culture alive in the heart of Berlin.More
Iran's dating revolution
In a country bound by strict Islamic law, more Iranians than ever before are staying single. The government is so concerned that it has set up an online dating agency. Shaunagh Connaire went to Tehran in 2016 to find out about dating, Iranian style.More
Palestinian-American chef Reem Assil: "Creating a sense of belonging"
In this episode of Cooking in America, Sheldon Simeon is in the kitchen with chef Reem Assil, sampling some typical Palestinian cuisine at Dyafa in Oakland, California.More
The once mighty Tigris and Euphrates
For thousands of years, two famous rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, made Iraq one of the most fertile regions in the Middle East. These days, the future of both rivers is in danger.More
Salafism in Germany: What you need to know
Salafism has a long history, with a path stretching from the Prophet Muhammad and the first three generations of Muslims all the way to present-day Germany. We take a look at this multifaceted movement of Islam.More
"Us and them: Diversity, division and a world of difference"
Open societies and liberal democracies are no longer merely ideas: they have become reality, argues Aladin El-Mafaalani in his lecture on "Open society and social closure".More
France debates where to teach Arabic: state school or local mosque?
About three million people use Arabic on a daily basis in France, making it the country’s most spoken foreign language. But Arabic is barely taught in public schools, so mosques and private associations have stepped in to fill this educational gap. Now, the government is growing worried about an increasing number of students learning Arabic outside the state’s oversight.More
From terror to triumph: a young Rohingya woman's journey to the impossible
Inspired by the heroic stories of Malala and Helen Keller, Formin Akter, a young Rohingya woman who fled Rakhine State with her family in 2017, kept her dream of university alive. Now a freshman at the Asian University for Women in southern Bangladesh, she hopes to be an inspiration to others.More
The children of Aleppo: Majida's story
Syria's war has left hundreds of thousands of people with a disability. Many of them are children. Ten-year-old Majida Al-Omar lost her leg after an air strike in the city of Aleppo. Now in Turkey, she is rebuilding her life, one step at a time.More
Al Jazeera's "My Tunisia"
Al Jazeera's intimate portrait series "My Tunisia" follows the life and personal stories of six Tunisians – beyond the headlines and the cliches.More
Kumut Imesh: "Revenir", my flight revisited
On his flight from the Ivory Coast Kumut Imesh passed six countries before he reached Europe. Thirteen years later he set out to follow his route again – this time with a camera – to create the documentary "Revenir".More
Mauritania criminalises extra-marital relations
Human Rights Watch explains how the criminalisation of sexual relations outside marriage in Mauritania is putting rape survivors at risk. The law deters them from filing complaints because they could themselves face prosecution.More
How homosexuality became a crime in the Middle East
Colonialism, culture wars and fundamentalist politicians have restricted sexual freedom in the Middle East, explains The EconomistMore
Al-Jazeera: Edward Said, historian of the colonial narrative
Palestinian-American literary historian Edward Said showed how the West had the power to represent the colonial "other" – while simultaneously leaving them silent.More
Tolerance. Understanding. Coexistence: Oman's message of Islam
"The aim of exchange is to reflect on the foundations of our thinking, a common morality and a common sense of justice," says Sheikh Abdullah al-Salimi, Omanʹs minister of religious affairs. "Only when we are aware of these similarities, while accepting cultural differences, will we and our children enjoy a peaceful future."More
Integration in Germany: The master barber of Berlin
A Palestinian barber puts his stamp on Berlin by transforming a rundown American school bus into a stylish barbershop on wheels. In this Al-Jazeera reportage, he reveals his recipe for real integration in Germany.More
Project Syndicate: Deutsche Bank economist Elina Ribakova on the challenges of integration
Although integrating refugees and migrants has become a key policy priority in many countries, integration is rarely defined explicitly. But there are several indicators that can be used to gauge success, says EEMEA chief economist for the Deutsche Bank Elina Ribakova.More
Chef Kamel Hashlamon bridges Israeli-Palestinian divide with food
Palestinian chef Kamel Hashlamon’s life has been filled with challenges, starting with his birthplace: East Jerusalem. Yet his culinary career has been defined by his ability to bridge differences between Palestinians and Israelis with his food.More
The German Islam Scholar Lamya Kaddor
Why I as a Muslim Woman Don't Wear a Headscarf
Jordan and the influx of refugees
The true Samaritans
Muslims in Liberal Democracies
Why the West Fears Islam
The decline of Islamic scientific thought
Don't blame it on al-Ghazali
The Media and ''The Innocence of Muslims''
Against the Islamisation of Muslims
Junaid Jamshed
"I Was a Sinner for Years"