Islamic Studies Digital Library

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Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project
The DILP is an effort to digitize important Islamic resources and make them available to the masses through the Internet. Ultimately, we aim to explore possibilities of bringing this digitized material together in a comprehensive Islamic Study Database.
Includes multimedia selections, full length texts, journal articles, booklets and software and a listing of their current work in progress

Internet Islamic History Sourcebook
"In addition to direct links to documents, links are made to a number of other web resources. Link to secondary article, review or discussion on a given topic. Link to one of the megasites which track web resources. Link to a website focused on a specific issue."
By Paul Halsall, Fordham University

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99 Names of God [Allah]
"These 99 paintings reflects the name of God in arabic, each name has universal meanings, These names are sacred and holy and beyond any religion. I use traditional calligraphy for reference and to be accurate with spelling and rest with inspiration and paint, I wanted to paint each one as unique yet consistent to other and reflect the beauty of his name."
By Hafeez

alt.muslim
"An interactive news and discussion forum that helps promote a critical (and self-critical) analysis of issues regarding the Muslim community. Our editors provide brief overviews of issues affecting the Muslim world, along with extended commentary and discussion on a variety of topics, all designed to foster a community of people who want to become more informed and involved in the world around them."
- Part of the Halafire Media Network.

The American Muslim (TAM)
"Provide an open forum for the discussion of ideas and issues of concern to Muslims in America from various points of view (based on Qur'an and Sunnah) representing no one school of thought, ethnic group or organization, but to encourage all to be represented in these pages and to speak for themselves, provide a balanced, moderate, alternative voice focusing on the spiritual, dimension of Islam rather than the more often heard voice of extreme political Islamism."

  • September 2002 Issue
    "A special issue of The American Muslim in memory of the victims of the September 11th terrorist attack is now online at www.theamericanmuslim.org. This issue includes articles by Muslims and non-Muslims and even a few articles that are not on this topic. However, primarily we have a tremendous collection of articles which may be of particular interest to those who have asked 'Where is the Muslim response?'"

American Public Media - Speaking of Faith

  • Muslim Women and Other Misunderstandings
    "Is there such a thing as the Muslim world? Is the 'veil' a sign of submission or courage? Is our Western concern about women in Islam really a concern for the well-being of women? Our guest, Egyptian-American Leila Ahmed, challenges current thought on these and other questions."
    Listen to the audio or read the transcript to the December 7, 2006 radio broadcast.
  • Hearing Muslim Voices Since 9/11 (September 2006)
    "Dramatic headlines convey a predominantly violent picture of global Islam. But, during the past five years, Muslim guests on Step back with us and hear these voices from the traditional and evolving center of Islam."
  • The Face of the Prophet: Cartoons and Chasm (February 2006)
    "Our guest, an American Muslim and religious scholar, helps untangle the knot of violent and bewildered reactions to cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad."

Assirat al-Mustaqeem Magazine Online

The Atlantic Online
Online version of The Atlantic Monthly.

Before Taliban : Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad
By David B. Edwards
California E-Editions - browse for free.

BICNews Global Newsletter Service
"It is a Newsletter that broadcasts news and analysis around the clock, covering the whole globe, International, General, Science, Health, History, Book Reviews, Environment, Astronomy, Religion, Internet, and of course Islamic issues for FREE."
- Belfast Mosque

The British Library

  • Collect Britain
    "Putting History in place: over 90,000 images and sounds from the UK and beyond."
    • Expressions of Faith
      "The British Library holds a wealth of sacred manuscripts from around the world and many of them rare, ancient and beautiful. We invited a group of well-known people from different faiths and walks of life to choose their favorites."
      Sections include: Buddhism ; Christianity ; Hinduism ; Islam ; Jainism ; Judaism ; Sikkhism.

Brookings Institution

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID) - Publications
"Is a non-profit organization, based in Washington DC, dedicated to studying Islamic and democratic political thought and merging them into a modern Islamic democratic discourse. The organization was founded in March 1999 by a diverse group of academicians, professionals, and activists--both Muslim and non-Muslim--from around the who agree on the need for the study of and dissemination of reliable information on this complex topic."
Online Publications include: Muslim Democrat ; Conference Proceedings ; Democracy Watch.

Christian Science Monitor - A Changed World: Combating Terrorism

  • National and Worldwide Muslim Condemnation of Terrorism
    "The following document is a compilation of condemnations of the September 11 attacks. The articles, press releases and news clippings represent a sample of worldwide Muslim condemnation of these attacks and of terrorism in general. Most of the documents contain only excerpts of these condemnations. A document containing the full text of these condemnations would be much longer.

CQ Press

  • Jihad
    Entry from Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion, ed. Robert Wuthnow. 2 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1998), 425-426.

Current History
A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs.

The David Collection (Copenhagen)
"The works of fine and applied art from the 18th century, which make up the nucleus of the collection, were acquired by the founder himself. In addition, he assembled a small group of works of art from the Islamic world and a collection of Danish art from the first half of the 20th century."
Online samples from both the European Collection and the Islamic Collection.

Dictionary of Islamic Philosophic Terms
"This dictionary is an aid to the readers of Muslim philosophical works many of which are in Arabic. It includes most of the terminology that was developed by Muslim philosophers in their works and the terms that they borrowed -and sometimes translated- from the Greek philosophical works. Also included are concepts that are Islamic but of a philosophical nature and were used by Muslim philosophers...The dictionary also includes the Arabized names of the philosophers and scientist of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Origin -namely those that worked with Greek works of science, mathematics and philosophy."

Early Islamic Tiles
"and some related items formerly in the collection of Lockwood de Forest II"
Scanned images of 102 tiles collected from the Middle East and North Africa in the late nineteenth century.

Foreign Affairs
- Published by the Council on Foreign Relations

  • When the Shiites Rise
    "Summary: By toppling Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration has liberated and empowered Iraq's Shiite majority and has helped launch a broad Shiite revival that will upset the sectarian balance in Iraq and the Middle East for years to come. This development is rattling some Sunni Arab governments, but for Washington, it could be a chance to build bridges with the region's Shiites, especially in Iran."
    By Vali Nasr, July/August 2006

Free Muslim Resources Page
"A list of free Islamic stuff on the internet, here Muslims can download Quran translations or Hajj screen savers and more."
Includes a nice list of online Islamic / Arabic newspapers

Holy Quran
"Comprehensive Quran browser site with an English translation, browse and word search facility, index and related links."

The Holy See
The official Vatican site

[Indonesia] International Crisis Group

International Crisis Group (ICG)

International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Internet Islamic History Sourcebook
"In addition to direct links to documents, links are made to a number of other web resources. Link to secondary article, review or discussion on a given topic. Link to one of the megasites which track web resources...Link to a website focused on a specific issue."
By Paul Halsall, Fordham University

Islamic Approach to Medicine (etext)
By Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Hamid Al Sayyad, Professor of Medicine, Al Azhar and Kuwait Universities. Translated by Mohammed Madi, Royal Commission Medical Center, Saudi Arabia.

Islamic Architecture
"Every section is provided with references, images, and applicable information. The "iArchitecture" section provides; an Introduction to the Islamic Architecture and reviews of Mosques & palaces around the world. In the "iArts" section; you'll find information on calligraphy styles, carpet designs, geometrical & floral patterns, metalwork, Pottery, textiles, and Woodwork."

Islamic Arts and Monuments of India
The Islamic Heritage of India
"Some of India's most beautiful heritage is derived from the Muslims who invaded India over the centuries. While Taj Mahal is but the most famous of them, the Islamic influence is well integrated into the modern Indian society. Here is a picture collection on Islamic arts and monuments of India."

Islamic Banking and Finance: Another Approach
Revised version of a paper presented at the Islamic Hinterland Conference on Critical Debates Among Canadian Muslims, 3-5 September 1999, Toronto, Canada
by A.L.M. Abdul Gafoor

Islamic Medical Manuscripts at the National Library of Medicine
"This site, with its biographies, colorful images, and extensive historical accounts of medieval medicine and science is designed for students and everyone interested in the history of Islamic and European culture...For students, the site includes an extensive glossary of medical, scientific, and book-production terminology linked to the text. For advanced scholars, the site provides a catalogue raisonnè (including images) from the 300 or so Persian and Arabic manuscripts in the National Library of Medicine."

Islamic Voice

[Jihad] Middle East Media Research Institute - Jihad and Terrorism Studies Project

Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies
Free registration required

The Koran
"This text is an electronically scanned version of M. H. Shakir's translation of the Holy Qur'an, as published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc., P.O. Box 1115, Elmhurst, New York 11373. The text has passed through a preliminary editing, but is not yet error free. The authentic version of this translation remains the printed copy. The electronic version is originally from the Online Book Initiative, and is presented here in a searchable SGML form by the University of Virginia."

Library of Congress Exhibitions

  • Ancient Manuscripts from the Desert of Timbuktu
    "Timbuktu, Mali, is the legendary city founded as a commercial center in West Africa nine hundred years ago. Dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the ancient manuscripts presented in this exhibition cover every aspect of human endeavor and are indicative of the high level of civilization attained by West Africans during the Middle Ages and provide irrefutable proof of a powerful African literary tradition. Scholars in the fields of Islamic Studies and African Studies believe that analysis of these texts will cause Islamic, West African, and World History to be reevaluated."

Middle East Virtual Library - MENALIB
"Is an information portal for Middle East and Islamic Studies. It provides access to online information and to digital records of printed and other offline media and thus supports the concept of a hybrid library for Middle East and Islamic Studies."
State and University Library Saxony-Anhalt in Halle (Germany) and many partners.

Minnesota Public Radio

  • Peace and Faith
    "Scholars on Islam [Qamar-ul Huda, U.S. Institute of Peace and Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University] talk about peace and the barriers to common understanding across faiths."
    Listen to the September 2006 broadcast.

Mullahs on the Mainframe:
Islam and Modernity among the Daudi Bohras.
[Excerpt and Interview with the author]
By Jonah Blank, University of Chicago Press; 2001.

Muslim Life in America : In the Mainstream
"This 'electronic pamphlet' shows Muslims living as part of the mainstream of American life. It is an electronic packet of material that contains 45 photos featuring ordinary American Muslims, facts, figures (e.g., number of mosques in the United States), charts, quotes, articles, and links to various Islamic Websites."
U.S. Department of State publication

Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
"This site was created by the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) to provide an arena for American Muslim activists to share information, network, and work on causes that impact the American Muslim community."
Contains sections on networking, opinion, analysis, resources, and current events.

MuslimHeritage.com
"Through 1000 years of missing history and explore the fascinating Muslim contribution to present day Science, Technology, Arts and Civilization. Through the advancement in Internet technologies, FSTC has the facility to allow global access to this new Muslim heritage database, including source materials, 3-D recreated models of Muslim technology and an online community of scholars and contributors."
- Foundation for Science Technology and Civilization (FSTC)

  • Science
    Topics include: Agriculture ; Astronomy ; Botany ; Chemistry ; Engineering ; Medicine ; Muslim Scientists ; Technology.

National Geographic News

National Public Radio (NPR) - The Partisans of Ali: A History of Shia Faith and Politics
Audio and Text of the February 2007 NPR series.
"The United States is immersed more deeply than ever in the Muslim world's sectarian divide. A five-part series explores the split between Shia and Sunnis, from its origins shortly after the death of Muhammed in the seventh century to the modern-day upheaval in Iraq."
In This Series: : The Origins of the Shia-Sunni Split ; Shi Rise Amid Century of Mideast Turmoil ; Export of Iran's Revolution Spawns Violence ; Iraq War Deepens Sunni-Shia Divide ; Shia-Sunni Conflict Forces U.S. Shift in Iraq ; Profiles: Key Individuals in the Shia-Sunni Divide ; Chronology: A History of the Shia-Sunni Split ; One Thousand Years of Shiite History ; Suggested Reading.

The New Republic

The New York Times

PBS - America at a Crossroads
Companion website to the April 2007 series.
"Is a major public television event premiering on PBS in April 2007 that explores the challenges confronting the post-9/11 world ó including the war on terrorism; the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; the experience of American troops serving abroad; the struggle for balance within the Muslim world; and global perspectives on America's role overseas."
Films include: JIHAD: The Men and Ideas behind Al Qaeda ; Warriors ; Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience ; Gangs of Iraq ; The Case for War: In Defense of Freedom ; Europe's 9/11 ; The Muslim Americans ; Faith Without Fear ; Struggle for the Soul of Islam: Inside Indonesia ; Security versus Liberty: The Other War ; The Brotherhood.

PBS - Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
An Online Companion to the Weekly Television News Program

  • The Hajj
    Watch the December 29, 2006 report online.
  • Secular Islamic Turkey
    Watch the December 15, 2006 report online.
  • Shia/Sunni Conflict
    "Sunnis and Shiites have not always been openly hostile. In many parts of the world they live together peacefully. Indeed, they used to get along so well in Iraq, the sectarian violence that erupted there last year took many by surprise. Lucky Severson talked with an influential and prominent Middle East scholar about the history of Sunni-Shiite rivalry, why it is now tearing Iraq apart, and what the prospects are for controlling it."
    Watch the September 29, 2006 report online.
  • Battle for the Middle East
    Web Exclusive, August 10, 2006
    "Read correspondent Lucky Severson's August 7, 2006 interview in Washington, D.C. with Vali Nasr, a professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California."
    Includes a description of the history and political consequences of the Shia / Sunni split within Islam, Iraq, and the Middle East.

Pew Global Attitudes Project
- A Project of the PewResearchCenter

Quran Browser
Search the Qur'an by passage, word or word part in one of three translations (Pickthall, Yusufali or Shakir)

PBS - Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
An Online Companion to the Weekly Television News Program

  • Teen Imams
    Watch the October 6, 2006 report online.
  • Shia/Sunni Conflict
    "Sunnis and Shiites have not always been openly hostile. In many parts of the world they live together peacefully. Indeed, they used to get along so well in Iraq, the sectarian violence that erupted there last year took many by surprise. Lucky Severson talked with an influential and prominent Middle East scholar about the history of Sunni-Shiite rivalry, why it is now tearing Iraq apart, and what the prospects are for controlling it."
    Watch the September 29, 2006 report online.
  • The Catholic Church and Islam (September 22, 2006)
    Watch report online.
  • 9/11 Five-Year Anniversary (September 8, 2006)
    Watch report online.
    Feature: American Muslims Five Years Later

Pluralism Project
"Our mission is to help Americans engage with the realities of religious diversity through research, outreach, and the active dissemination of resources."
- Committee on the Study of Religion, Harvard University.

RAND Corporation - Research Areas - Terrorism and Homeland Security

  • RAND Voices of Jihad Database
    "This online database is a compilation of speeches, interviews, statements, and publications of jihadist leaders, foot soldiers, and sympathizers. Nearly all content is in English translation, and has been collected from publicly-accessible websites. Original links are provided, along with excerpts and full-text content when available."

Russia in Global Affairs

  • Islam, the Way We See It
    By Alexei Malashenko, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, October-December 2006.

Seattle Times - Opinion

[Shi'ite] TIME

A Shi'ite Encyclopedia

[Shia / Sunni Split] National Public Radio (NPR) - The Partisans of Ali: A History of Shia Faith and Politics
Audio and Text of the February 2007 NPR series.
"The United States is immersed more deeply than ever in the Muslim world's sectarian divide. A five-part series explores the split between Shia and Sunnis, from its origins shortly after the death of Muhammed in the seventh century to the modern-day upheaval in Iraq."
In This Series: : The Origins of the Shia-Sunni Split ; Shi Rise Amid Century of Mideast Turmoil ; Export of Iran's Revolution Spawns Violence ; Iraq War Deepens Sunni-Shia Divide ; Shia-Sunni Conflict Forces U.S. Shift in Iraq ; Profiles: Key Individuals in the Shia-Sunni Divide ; Chronology: A History of the Shia-Sunni Split ; One Thousand Years of Shiite History ; Suggested Reading.

Science Magazine - Essays On Science and Society

Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

  • After September 11: Perspective from the Social Sciences
    "This website features an extraordinary and still-expanding collection of essays by leading social scientists from around the country and the world. These are efforts by social scientists to bring theoretical and empirical knowledge to bear on the events of Sept. 11, their precursors, and what comes after."
    Sections include: Globalization ; Fundamentalism (s) ; Terrorism & Democratic Virtues ; Competing Narratives ; New War ; New World Order ; The View from Latin America ; Building Peace ; Recovery.

Transcendent Philosophy
Journal of Comparative Philosophy and Mysticism

United States Institute of Peace

University of Calgary - Applied History Research Group - Multimedia History Tutorials

  • The Islamic World to 1600
    "A multimedia introduction to the first millennium of Islamic history, developed by the Applied History Research Group. It will outline Muslim beliefs and practices, as well as the history of the Islamic world from the 7th to the 17th centuries, including the expansion of the Islamic empires of Asia, Africa, and Europe."

University of California, Berkeley - Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Written in Stone
Inscriptions from the National Museum of Saudi Arabia
"We present and examine 54 museum objects which bear examples of ancient epigraphy. This is a small selection from over 9,000 catalogued epigraphic objects within the two relevant collections ('Pre-Islamic Epigraphy' and 'Islamic Epigraphy') of the Deputy Ministry of Antiquities and Museums."
By Dr. Ali Saleh al-Moghanam (and) Dr. Paul Michael Taylor, with contributions by staff members of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Academic Email Discussion Lists
ISLAM-L
History of Islam

Study of Islam Section List-serve
"The Islamaar discussion list is the official list of the American Academy of Religion section for the study of Islam. It is a means for scholars and students of Islam to keep abreast of the latest information in the field and to communicate on topics of mutual interest."
- Islam Section, American Academy of Religion