Little is it known that there was a time when the Sultans of Turkey ruled the hearts of the Musalmans of the far-famed isle of Sarandib. Sri Lanka is home to a large number of Muslims many of whom comprise the descendants of Arab traders who had settled down here several centuries ago. It would appear [...] [...more]
Last week the Sakirin Mosque opened in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the first mosque in the country to have an interior designed by a woman, Zeynep Fadillioglu. An interior designer known for jet setting ways, she nonetheless won a commission to redesign the religious structure in Istanbul. She even recruited women to help in the [...] [...more]
Suwarn Vajracharya We might stand up for our community, but it cannot be said that we have stood against the interest of the country as a whole. I have always said, and I repeat it today, that I consider the interest of the country as a whole, to be paramount. (Dr. T. B. Jayah1) , 1937) 1. [...] [...more]
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid. The primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer. Nevertheless, mosques are known around the world nowadays for their general importance to the [...] [...more]
Washington File Special Correspondent Washington – He is the most popular poet in the United States. Barely known here only a decade ago, classes on his work have sprouted up on university campuses throughout the country. Community lectures and public readings of his poetry are announced in the cultural sections of newspapers in virtually every major [...] [...more]
A.M.A.Azeez was born in Jaffna in 1911 and died in Colombo in 1973. His comparatively short life of 62 years forms a captivating swathe in modern Sri Lankan history.Viewed as a whole, perhaps its greatest lesson is as a metaphor for Nation Building. Juxtaposing Azeez’s lifework besides the needlepoint in time that we are poised [...] [...more]
Every time the Muse called Mohideen Baig, he left everything behind and went in search of his destiny. As chronicles go, it happened at least twice in his life. The first time was in Salem, Madras, the homeland he was born in. Mohideen Baig Baig’s Head Master summoned his father to tell that the son was not bent on [...] [...more]
We all are music lovers. Shakespeare in his dramas like Merchant of Venice has referred to musical scenes. This world renowned Bard says that a person who does not like music should not be trusted. As far as Sinhala music is concerned we see that it has foreign influence specially from India. It is said that [...] [...more]
The relations that have existed between the Sinhalese and Muslims of Sri Lanka since time immemorial may be cited as a unique example of ethnic harmony in pluralistic, multi-ethnic societies. This inimitable relationship between the country’s majority community comprising of over 70 percent of the population and a minority of less than 10 percent is [...] [...more]
Arabic words transform to art as Marhana works her magic For centuries, the beauty of flowing curves and angular lines of the Arabic font has been preserved and protected in a beautiful art form, calligraphy. From the enchanting arabesque mosaics lining the walls of mosques, to the flowing scriptures of the Holy Qur’an, from international logos [...] [...more]
