Summary: History needs men and women of thought and those of action. In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Arabs, Persians, Spaniards and Africans had laid the intellectual foundation of Islam. In the 10th century, the Turks provided the primal energy to renew Islamic civilization and supplied the men and women of action who propelled it for over a thousand years. The Turks tower over the...

As the crescent moon heralds the end of Ramadan, the Islamic community worldwide prepares to bid farewell to the blessed month with a mixture of joy, gratitude, and contemplation. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is where Muslims engage in a period of fasting, increased prayer, and acts of charity. It is a time for spiritual reflection and personal growth, culminating in...

History is infinitely elastic. The actions of one person in any age cause ripples that affect the lives of thousands who live downstream. Mahmud of Ghazna is important in Islamic history because his actions set the tone for the interaction between the world of Islam and the world of the Hindus. The tone of that interaction created a bitterness that has been exploited by extremists in the...