IF YOU’VE EVER travelled to Sylhet in the northeast of Bangladesh, it’s hard not to be captivated by the beauty of its tea gardens. The dark green terraces stretch across rolling hills, occasionally shaded by tall trees, creating a landscape that is as serene as it is breathtaking. But behind this calm, green elegance lies … Continue reading Capitalism in a Teacup: The Exploitation Beneath a Global Commodity
THIS YEAR IN Dhaka, I saw something more noticeable than before. Whenever we stopped at a traffic light, someone would tap on the car window asking for money. These individuals appeared physically male but were dressed in saris, with bindis on their foreheads—clearly identifying themselves as women. Who Are the Hijras? The term Hijra refers to a … Continue reading Hijras and Gender Identity Politics: An Islamic Response
RECENTLY, SOMEONE COMPLAINED to my parents about the length of my son’s hair (somewhere below his earlobes but above his shoulders), saying: “Children of good families don’t keep their hair long.” If I were to ask my son, now 19, to respond, he’d probably be surprised. He might remind them that the Messenger Muhammad … Continue reading Raising Muslims, Not Mini-Me’s: Navigating Personal Preferences in Islam
I CAN MAKE du‘a for my loved ones who’ve passed away from anywhere in the world — and I know that Allah hears me. His Mercy isn’t limited by distance. But still… there’s something different about standing at their graves, like I did recently. Something quiet, humbling, and deeply human. The Prophet ﷺ once said: … Continue reading Graveside Reflections
ONE OF THE blessings of visiting Bangladesh is the opportunity to reconnect with family, especially the elders. While many of my relatives have moved abroad, a few still live in Dhaka, and a few remain in our village homes. This trip was long overdue. It had been seven years since I last saw the relatives in the … Continue reading In the Company of the Elders: Reflections on Life, Death, and Du’a
THE PAST FEW days, I’ve been away from the city—deep in rural Bangladesh. Life is different out here. The first thing you notice is the beauty—endless shades of green stretching as far as the eye can see. The pace slows. The air is cleaner. Time feels still, almost suspended. I brought my family here to … Continue reading The Places We Lived, The Lessons We Took
WE’VE COME AT the tail end of the tropical monsoon season. Yes, it’s swelteringly hot with thunderstorms, but it is this very rain and heat that has transformed the land into stunning green. Every shade you can think of and more. وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَذَّكَّرُونَ … Continue reading His Ayat in Colour
YESTERDAY, I ATTENDED Jumu‘ah at a masjid in Dhaka that holds deep personal significance for me. It was established by my parents in 2005 as a waqf—an Islamic endowment intended for perpetual public benefit. The last time I visited was in 2007, when the masjid was still a humble, tin-roofed, single-story structure in a developing … Continue reading Reflections on a Family Waqf and the Broader Role of Waqf in Islam
WITH DECLINING BIRTH rates and ageing populations, Western societies are becoming increasingly dependent on shrinking workforces and all the issues that arise from that. But Bangladesh is blessed with a different reality. Our population of 175 million includes a powerful asset: a young, energetic, and growing generation, with half of the population under 27 years … Continue reading A Nation of Potential Held Hostage by Corruption
DHAKA HAS ALWAYS been congested. It’s hot, noisy, grimy, and overflowing with people. That much hasn’t changed. But what has changed — and not for the better — is the very identity of the city, especially in how we live. I remember a different Dhaka. A city where homes stood on generous plots of land, … Continue reading The Islamic Home: Why Design Matters in the Muslim World
