For 30 days during the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims abstain from drinking a single drop of water or eating a bite of food, from before dawn until after the sun sets in the sky, as a religious obligation to God. Every year Muslims look forward to this test of faith with great longing. Last year I wrote a primer on fasting and Ramadan that can be found here.

Despite a bipartisan agreement yesterday, I think of the debt ceiling debacle like you are trying to keep your cholesterol normal despite daily consumption of Big Macs, fried chicken and ice cream. So when your blood work reveals a cholesterol of, say, 271mg/dl, you somehow snooker your doctor into agreeing that the upper limit of normal cholesterol is 300mg/dl instead of 200mg/dl. Over the next few years the cycle gets repeated, and each time you are able to negotiate a higher upper limit for "normal" cholesterol.

Some countries depict themselves as committed to the universal human values, but when those values come into conflict with their national interests, they demonstrate hypocritical behavior.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is when Muslims across the world fast during the hours of daylight. Ramadan is much more than abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. It is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice.

The Glorious and Holy Month of Ramadan has commenced. In this Month of Glory, Forbearance, Patience and Brotherhood we ask Allah the Almighty and Exalted to make us successful in fasting this holy month, rising during its days and nights, getting close to Him and humbly praying to Him, reciting the Holy Qur'an with pondering, and making use of its true guidance, clear signs, and criterion. The Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.) has said: "O people the gates of paradise remain open in the month of Ramadan. Do pray that the gates may not be closed on you. While the gates of hell are closed, do pray to Allah that these gates may never be opened."

You have to get past what’s strikingly different about Mariam Nawas to grasp how similar she is to other young women her age.

‘Tears of Gaza’ by Vibeke Lokkerberg is a documentary film that should be watched by every American, to see how Israel spends our taxes. Every European should watch it, to see the true face of Israel. It should be viewed by every Arab, to renew our resolve not to allow a racist nation to wipe Palestine and her children from the map and from history.