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Author Archives: zeynebsayilgan
Invisible Heroes: Muslim Immigrants And Refugees In Our Community
Zeyneb Sayilgan, Ph.D. Maymuna is originally from Ghana and immigrated to the United States ten years ago. Her family had to remain behind. We first met when Maymuna knocked on my door one day. She had seen my name on … Continue reading
Posted in Islam
Tagged Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, bediuzzama-said-nursi, Community, Faith, Family, God, Hadith, Immigration, Islam, life, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Refugees, Religion
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Teaching about 9/11 – A Muslim Mother’s Plea to Educators
Zeyneb Sayilgan, Ph.D. Last year on 9/11, my then 5th grade daughter returned home from school visibly distressed. I became worried. “What happened?”- I asked. She urged me to sit down and watch a video with her. Her social studies … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, Death, God, Interreligious Education, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Ramadan, Risale-i Nur
Tagged Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Death, Faith, God, Grief, History, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Religion
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Welcoming Ramadan 2026: Five Songs on My Playlist Capturing this Holy Month
Zeyneb Sayılgan, Ph.D. Every year, Ramadan arrives in my home before the crescent moon is officially announced. It arrives in sound. A few days before the month begins, my daughter presses play. The first notes drift through the house, and … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, God, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Ramadan, Risale-i Nur
Tagged Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Faith, Fasting, God, Hadith, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Ramadan, Religion, Risale-i Nur
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Mary to the Rescue – How the Mother of Jesus saved the first Muslim Refugees
Zeyneb Sayılgan, Ph.D. I return often to an important event from the very beginning of Islamic history, because it refuses to let me give in to despair. At a time when Muslim immigrants and refugees are routinely dehumanized and demonized … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, God, Immigration, Interreligious Education, Islam, Jesus, Mary, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Risale-i Nur
Tagged Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Christianity, Faith, God, Islam, Jesus, Mary, Migration, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Religion, Risale-i Nur
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Islamophobia in the Classroom: Memories of a Muslim Student
by Zeyneb Sayılgan, Ph.D. Being bullied in school is a painful experience. When this injury is inflicted by teachers, though, it reaches another level. Your trust in adults who are supposed to nurture, guide and protect you is fundamentally shaken. … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, God, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Risale-i Nur
Tagged Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, God, Hadith, History, Islam, Islamophobia, Malcolm X, politics, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Religion, Risale-i Nur
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Pope Leo in Türkiye: Deepening Christian-Muslim Understanding
Pope Leo is visiting Türkiye – a country I call home and to which I have taken many Christian students to explore our shared religious history. Of course, Nicea (modern day Iznik) is a must visit destination in that regard. … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, Jesus, Mary, Prayer, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran
Tagged Islam, Religion
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Nostra Aetate at 60 – A Muslim Reflects on its Enduring Call to Mutual Understanding
Akdamar Church in Van – Türkiye I grew up as a Muslim child of immigrants in Germany in the beautiful city of Mainz. Surrounded by a rich Catholic culture, I often felt the weight of being seen as “other.” I … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, God, Islam, Jesus, Mary, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Risale-i Nur
Tagged Christianity, Islam, Quran, Religion
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Hajj 2025 – The Ancient United Nations Assembly
The hajj – the pilgrimage season which is attended by almost three million Muslims every year – is around the corner. With people from around 180 countries, this sacred ritual of Islam remains the largest gathering of humanity to this … Continue reading
Posted in Community, God, Hajj, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad
Tagged Community, God, Hajj, Islam, Pilgrimage, Prophet-Muhammad
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World Happiness Report 2025: A Muslim Reflection
Zeyneb Sayılgan, PhD My young daughter often asks me at bedtime about my favorite childhood memories. As I share them with her, I have come to realize they often involve other people. Playing outside in nature with the neighborhood children … Continue reading
Posted in Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, God, Islam, Quran
Tagged Bediüzzaman-Said-Nursi, Community, Faith, God, Happiness, Islam, Prophet-Muhammad, Quran, Religion
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On Motherhood: Finding Fortitude In The Prophet Muhammad’s Teachings
Mom, Anne, Mutti, Daye – I have said “mother” in all of the four languages I grew up with. Yet, it was only after I became a mother myself that I truly understood the depth and the meaning of what motherhood … Continue reading
