Islamic History

The Ottoman Printing Press Ban: A Stifled Word in the Islamic Renaissance

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Ottoman Printing Press Ban: Stifling Islamic Modernization?

In the grand tapestry of history, certain threads, when pulled, can unravel entire narratives. One such thread, seemingly small but profoundly impactful, is the Ottoman Empire’s long-standing aversion to the printing press. For centuries, while Europe was ablaze with the fire of new ideas, fanned by the rapid dissemination of knowledge through movable type, the … Read more

The Nation of Islam: Early Black Muslim Voices of Doubt and Dissent

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Nation of Islam: Early Black Muslim Perspectives on Elijah Muhammad

In the mid-20th century, a powerful new voice emerged from within America’s Black communities, proclaiming a unique vision of Islam and Black liberation: the Nation of Islam (NOI). Founded in Detroit in the 1930s and gaining significant traction under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad from the 1940s and 1950s, the NOI offered a theology, a … Read more