Governments often justify their existence by claiming to protect citizens from threats. But what happens when the very institutions tasked with solving a problem are also invested in keeping it alive? This paradox — of the arsonist who then dons a firefighter’s helmet — is nowhere clearer than in the U.S. government’s relationship with the … Continue reading The Arsonist in Uniform: How the U.S. Fuels and Fights the Drug War
The First Crusade: Holy War or Holy Hypocrisy?
The First Crusade (1096–1099) is often remembered in church history as a sacred mission to liberate Jerusalem from Muslim control, clothed in the language of holy war and divine justice. Pope Urban II’s fiery words at Clermont promised forgiveness of sins and eternal reward for those who “took the cross,” while Byzantine Emperor Alexios I … Continue reading The First Crusade: Holy War or Holy Hypocrisy?
Some Popular Misconceptions about Motzki (Joshua Little Thread)
The following is a thread by scholar Joshua Little regarding Harald Motzki : https://twitter.com/IslamicOrigins/status/1388495411489431556 Thread App write-up Harald Motzki (d. 2019) was an extremely influential scholar in secular Hadith Studies, best known for his criticisms of Joseph Schacht and Gautier Juynboll; his work on the Muṣannaf of ʿAbd al-Razzāq; and his defence of the isnād-cum-matn … Continue reading Some Popular Misconceptions about Motzki (Joshua Little Thread)
High and Low Hadithology: Mapping the Madhhabs’ Views on Hadith Authority
When scholars of Christianity speak of high and low Christology, they are not referring to two different religions but to a spectrum of belief regarding the status of Christ. Some traditions elevate him to pre-existent divinity, while others see him primarily as a prophet and teacher. The same framework can help us think about the … Continue reading High and Low Hadithology: Mapping the Madhhabs’ Views on Hadith Authority
Sunni Apologist Hadith Fragment (AP 259) Dishonesty
In a recent debate with Sunnis on Discord, some individuals cited a scholarly paper to claim proof of hadith manuscripts from the first century Hijri. In their typical fashion, rather than sending a link to the article, they only sent a screenshot of the article's first page, underlining a single sentence: “The date of this … Continue reading Sunni Apologist Hadith Fragment (AP 259) Dishonesty
Lessons in Epistemology from the Story of Joseph: Truth, Deception, and Divine Knowledge
The Quran presents the account of Joseph not merely as a tale of betrayal and redemption but as a sophisticated study in how humans come to know truth amid deception, doubt, and shifting appearances. How can the same shirt serve as both fabricated evidence of death and authentic proof of life? Why do dreams that … Continue reading Lessons in Epistemology from the Story of Joseph: Truth, Deception, and Divine Knowledge
Münchhausen Trilemma
Imagine standing on the edge of reason, asking the most basic question: How do we truly know anything? Every answer you reach for seems to slip through your fingers. If you justify a belief by appealing to another belief, you enter an infinite regress with no foundation. If you loop back on your assumptions to … Continue reading Münchhausen Trilemma
The Hawk & The Dove (Quran & Gospel)
The opening verse of Sura 53, "The Stars" (Al-Najm) states: [53:1] As the stars fell away. وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ 1wal-najmiوَٱلنَّجْمِBy the star2idhāإِذَاwhen3hawāهَوَىٰit fell down / fell away Dr. Rashad Khalifa provides the following footnote for this verse: *53:1-18 Muhammad was summoned to the highest universe to receive this Quran into his heart. The stars fell away … Continue reading The Hawk & The Dove (Quran & Gospel)
Possible Origins of the word Ḥawāriyūn (Disciples)
The Quran refers to the disciples of Jesus with the term ḥawāriyūn (ٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَ), which appears five times across four verses: 3:52:12l-ḥawāriyūnaٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَthe disciples5:111:4l-ḥawāriyīnaٱلْحَوَارِيِّـۧنَthe disciples5:112:3l-ḥawāriyūnaٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَthe disciples,61:14:12lil'ḥawāriyyīnaلِلْحَوَارِيِّـۧنَto the disciples,61:14:18l-ḥawāriyūnaٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَthe disciples, The term is derived from the root "ḥ-w-r" ( ح و ر ), and one of the meanings of this root is to wash or, more specifically, whiten … Continue reading Possible Origins of the word Ḥawāriyūn (Disciples)
Does 9:107 Forbid Praying Behind Hypocrites?
Some argue that the following verse prohibits a person from praying behind someone they deem a hypocrite. [9:107] There are those who abuse the masjid by practicing idol worship, dividing the believers, and providing comfort to those who oppose GOD and His messenger. They solemnly swear: "Our intentions are honorable!" GOD bears witness that they are … Continue reading Does 9:107 Forbid Praying Behind Hypocrites?
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