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Iqbal Akhtar

Iqbal Akhtar

The Conversation

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Why Arbaeen – the Shiite Muslim pilgrimage of mourning – has a deep significance that brings millions to Iraq each year

Each year, millions of Shiite Muslims walk to Karbala to honor Husayn, the prophet’s grandson, whose death continues to shape their faith.

31.07.2026 10

The Conversation

Iqbal Akhtar

Muslims were part of America’s story long before the republic began

Muslims were woven into both America’s founding population and its labor force, writes a scholar of Islam on the nation’s 250th anniversary.

30.06.2026 20

The Conversation

Iqbal Akhtar

The sacred cloth at the center of the Hajj pilgrimage

As millions gather for Hajj, they will circle the Kaaba, which is draped in the black cloth known as the kiswah – a sacred object shaped by...

25.05.2026 20

The Conversation

Iqbal Akhtar

Zohran Mamdani’s last name reflects centuries of intercontinental trade, migration and cultural exchange

Mamdanis belong to the Khoja community, who were categorized by the British in the early 19th century as “Hindoo Mussalman” because their...

14.07.2025 50

The Conversation

Iqbal Akhtar