Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced Tuesday the discovery of 173 rocks near Madinah bearing Arabic poetry and the name of Umar ibn al-Khattab, Islam’s second caliph.

The finds are part of a wider survey across 150 sites in the Mahd and Madinah regions, with researchers documenting 1,774 findings including Islamic and Thamudic inscriptions, rock art and ancient caravan routes.

Why it matters: Caliph Umar was one of Prophet Muhammad’s closest companions, according to Sunni Islam, and led the Muslim community from 634 to 644 C.E., overseeing the expansion of the Islamic state into Egypt, Syria and Persia. Rocks near Medina bearing his name is therefore a significant discovery, further strengthening the argument of his strong influence on regional history.

Trump hints deal is close, cancels further strikes against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump canceled further strikes against Iran Thursday, hinting a deal is close after writing on Truth Social that discussions reached “the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.”

Both sides have traded limited strikes since Iran shot down an American Apache helicopter Sunday.

Why it matters: Trump said a deal is close, while Iran replied the opposite. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said, according to The Guardian, that “Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement.” Trump’s announcement is most likely his latest repeated claim that a final peace settlement is near — all of which have been dismissed by Iran since the war began on Feb. 28.

Somali referee denied US entry will officiate UEFA Super Cup Final

Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, 31, who was denied U.S. entry days before the FIFA 2026 World Cup began, has been selected to officiate the UEFA Super Cup Final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Aug. 12.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection turned Artan back to Mogadishu upon landing in Miami on June 6 over suspected “association with suspected members of terror organizations” without explaining further.

Why it matters: Artan was set to become the first Somali World Cup referee. He was one of the most qualified individuals for the role, as he was voted CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025. UEFA stepping in to give Artan a prestigious assignment less than a week after his U.S. barring was effectively a show of public confidence that an America under the Trump administration could not replicate.

Anti-Islam agitator Jake Lang arrested in Texas on terror charges

Anti-Islam agitator and far right-wing activist Jake Lang, 31, was arrested in Dallas County Tuesday on terror charges for allegedly threatening violence, causing public fear and impairing public services. He is being held on a $1 million bond.

He was reportedly in north Texas to speak on the trial of Karmelo Anthony, convicted Wednesday of murder and sentenced to 35 years for fatally stabbing a 17-year-old at a Frisco high school track meet in April 2025.

Why it matters: Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 2021 insurrectionist, went from attempting to burn a Quran outside a Dearborn mosque in May to facing terror charges a month later. The agitator, who is still running for U.S. Senate in Florida, may see his hate-filled platform diminish sooner than later.

British man sentenced to life for Cambridge murder of Saudi student who volunteered at Kaaba

A 22-year-old British man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for the August 2025 murder of Mohammed Algasim, a 20-year-old Saudi college student.

Chas Corrigan admitted he was drunk and had taken cocaine before unprovokedly stabbing Algasim with a kitchen knife at a Cambridge train station.

Why it matters: Algasim had traveled to the U.K. to study English for 10 weeks, and, before his travel, was a regular volunteer at the Kaaba in Mecca. The story sent waves throughout the Islamic world, as Algasim used his youthful energy to volunteer at Islam’s holiest site not long before his death.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: Trusting God

Quran: وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

“Whoever relies upon God — He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. God has already set for everything a decreed extent.” — Surah At-Talaq, 65:3

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you were to rely upon God with the reliance He deserves, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening.” — Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2344

U.S. President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “f-cking crazy” in a leaked phone call Monday, Axios reported. The call came after Israeli forces bombed Beirut, prompting Iran to threaten suspending peace talks.

“You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me,” Trump said. “Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

Why it matters: While Trump has seemingly tried to show a strong public relationship with Netanyahu and his government, Monday’s leaked call is another example of its cracks. Trump had previously heckled Israel over continuing to strike Iran after a ceasefire agreement that ended the 12 Day war in June 2025.

Mamdani skips Israel Day Parade, breaking decades-long mayoral tradition

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani skipped the Israel Day Parade Sunday, the first mayor in decades to do so. The decision came two weeks after he posted a video commemorating the “Nakba,” or catastrophe, when roughly 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes upon the creation of Israel in 1948.

“I said on the campaign trail I wouldn’t attend,” Mamdani, 34, said last week.

Why it matters: While campaigning and in the office, the mayor has been outspoken about his pro-Palestine stance. Skipping the parade was a deliberate decision to make as more and more Americans show support for Palestine than Israel. However, it may alienate a sizable portion of his voter base, who were Jewish.

Egyptian American surgeon who volunteered in Gaza wins New Jersey Democratic primary

Dr. Adam Hamawy, an Egyptian American surgeon who volunteered in Gaza, won New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Hamawy, 56, topped the race with 28.1% of the vote, ahead of his main opponent Brad Cohen at 14.9%, according to the Associated Press. He is expected to face Republican nominee Greg Male in November.

Why it matters: Hamawy joins an increasing number of Muslim Arab Americans who have been running for public office since the Gaza war. If he wins in November, he will become another member of Congress with pro-Palestine sympathies.

This week marked 10 years since the death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali

Ten years ago, on Wednesday, Muhammad Ali died at 74 after three decades battling Parkinson’s disease. While becoming virtually the most well-known boxer of all time, winning three world heavyweight titles and frequently called ‘the greatest,’ he was also known outside the ring.

He refused military induction during the Vietnam War, sacrificing one of his titles in the process, and became an advocate for world peace and charity.

Why it matters: By the time he retired in 1979, Ali became the most recognized Muslim in the U.S. He showed the world what a proud, outspoken Muslim American looked like at a time when Islam was not well-known to most Americans. Ten years after his death, that legacy still matters.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: On helping others in goodness

Quran: وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ "Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression." — Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:2

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “A good word is charity. Every step taken toward the mosque is charity. Removing something harmful from the road is charity. Smiling at your brother is charity. Pouring water from your bucket into your brother’s is charity.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 2989, Sahih Muslim 1009

Today, 10 years ago, American boxing legend Muhammad Ali died at 74 after battling Parkinson’s disease for over three decades.

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942, Ali began boxing at the age of 12 and won three world heavyweight titles before retiring in 1979 as the most well-known American Muslim.

He transcended professional boxing to become one of the most influential figures of the 20th century — known for his refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War, his advocacy for Islam, racial justice and charity work.

Here are some pictures of Ali’s most iconic moments:

Muhammad Ali stands above Sonny Liston after delivering a first round knockout during the 1965 Heavyweight Title match at St. Dominic’s Arena in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. This is regarded as the most well-known photograph ever taken of Ali.

Cassius Clay (right) about to punch Sonny Liston (left) at the 1964 Heavyweight Title match in Miami Beach, Florida on February 25, 1964. Clay defeated Liston and took his heavyweight title. Shortly after, Clay announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Cassius Clay (left) looks over his shoulder towards civil rights activist Malcolm X (right) at the Miami-Dade County diner hours after defeating Sonny Liston in Miami, Florida on February 25, 1964. X, a Muslim since the 1940s, helped Clay embrace Islam a few days later.

Muhammad Ali speaks to the press before his fight against Ernie Terrell at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas on February 6, 1967.

Muhammad Ali praying in the corner of the boxing ring before his fight against Zora Folley at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 22, 1967. Ali would be stripped of his first heavyweight title in April over refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Muhammad Ali (center) speaks to the press at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas after being convicted of violating the Selective Service Act for refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military on June 20, 1967. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and was banned from professional boxing for three years.

Muhammad Ali looking at the sacred “Black Stone” inside the Kaaba while performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on February 28, 1972.

Muhammad Ali (left) looks down at George Foreman (middle) after knocking him out in the eighth round of the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” Heavyweight Title match in Kinsasha, Zaire on October 30, 1974. Despite being the underdog and older than Foreman, Ali won his second heavyweight title.

Muhammad Ali (right) fights Leon Spinks (left) for the second time in the “Battle for New Orleans” at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 15, 1978. Ali, who previously lost his title to Spinks in February, defeated him to secure his third heavyweight title. One year later, Ali retired from professional boxing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he has directed the Israeli military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip.

Under the October 2025 U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israeli forces were to remain within a demarcation line leaving them in roughly 53 percent of the enclave. Seizing 70 percent would force approximately 2 million Palestinians into a shrinking fraction of the enclave’s shattered territory.

Why it matters: Netanyahu publicly announced plans to take more Palestinian land than his own ceasefire agreement allows, while the ceasefire is still nominally in effect. It shows what his true intentions may have always been: to fully annex Gaza

Trump meets with aides on Iran ceasefire extension

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he met with senior aides in the White House Situation Room to make a “final determination” on Iran’s request to extend the ceasefire by 60 days. Iran sent the request earlier this week after several rounds of talks failed to officially end the conflict since a preliminary ceasefire was reached April 8.

Washington wants Iran’s nuclear program dismantled and the Strait of Hormuz reopened. Tehran wants to maintain its nuclear program and have sanctions lifted.

Why it matters: The ceasefire keeping the Middle East from returning to open war could expire this week if no deal is reached. Both sides have failed to reach a definitive agreement despite nearly two months of talks.

Nearly two million Muslims perform Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca

Close to two million Muslims performed the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca this week, according to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Roughly 1.6 million were international pilgrims from more than 120 countries, with nearly 300,000 domestic Saudi pilgrims. This year’s international turnout exceeded 2025’s.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory once in a lifetime for every financially and physically able Muslim. It runs from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah and commemorates the faith of Prophet Ibrahim and his family.

Why it matters: The Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca remains as the largest annual human gatherings of worship on earth, a show of Muslim dedication to Islam’s fifth pillar.

140,000 pray at al-Aqsa on Eid, defying Israeli restrictions

Approximately 140,000 people gathered at al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in East Jerusalem for Eid al-Adha prayer Wednesday, the Islamic Waqf said. The Waqf, which administers Islam’s third-holiest site, called it the largest crowd at the compound in recent months and said the gathering defied Israeli restrictions.

In March, Israeli authorities closed the mosque for 37 consecutive days during Ramadan, the longest closure since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

Why it matters: Despite the reported restrictions, 140,000 Muslims, mostly Palestinians, prayed at a site that was shuttered for over a month just weeks ago. The turnout was itself an act of defiance for a people still reeling from the horrors of the Gaza war.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and the Sacrifice

Quran: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ

“When the boy reached the age to work with him, Ibrahim said: ‘My son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you. What do you think?’ He said: ‘Father, do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.’” — Surah As-Saffat, 37:102

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Eid al-Adha than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Resurrection with its horns, hair and hooves. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. So sacrifice with an open and happy heart." — Sunan Ibn Majah 3126

Three men were killed Monday by two gunmen at the Islamic Center of San Diego, shaking the American Muslim community.

Upon seeing the gunmen rush the premises, security guard Amin Abdullah initiated a lockdown and engaged them in a shootout before being killed. Police Chief Scott Wahl called Abdullah a “hero,” saying his actions protected 140 children inside the mosque’s school.

The other two men, Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad, were in the parking lot when they drew the gunmen away from the building before being killed. Kaziha was a longtime cook, shop owner and community pioneer. Awad was a longtime volunteer whose wife teaches at the mosque’s school.

The two suspects, identified as male teens, were found by police dead in a vehicle from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Why it matters: The bravery of the three Muslim men became a national story, with the press calling them heroes who sacrificed their lives for others. More than 2,000 people attended their funeral service on Thursday. The attack came after years of heightened Islamophobic rhetoric not only from influencers, but elected officials. Many critics argue the rhetoric is to blame.

Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir taunts flotilla activists, drawing global condemnation

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video Wednesday showing himself taunting detained Global Sumud Flotilla activists at the port of Ashdod. Ben Gvir waved an Israeli flag and shouted “Welcome to Israel! We are in charge here!” He was also heard urging guards not to be “bothered by their screams.”

The video drew rare public rebukes from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Italy, France and Canada summoned Israeli ambassadors over the footage. The U.S. Treasury, however, imposed sanctions on four flotilla organizers the same day, labeling the humanitarian mission a “pro-terror flotilla.”

Why it matters: A top Israeli official filmed himself humiliating bound civilians and posted it publicly; an act that long-standing Israeli allies sharply condemned. However, no real actions will be done to address Ben Gvir’s taunting, as it was not his first, and it will probably not be his last.

Trump, AIPAC oust Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie in historic primary

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) lost his House seat of 14 years Tuesday to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein by nearly 10 percentage points. Trump spent months attacking Massie for opposing the Iran war, criticizing aid to Israel and voting against his “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

The race became the most expensive House primary in U.S. history, with over $32 million in ad spending. Pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC and affiliated super PACs poured more than $15.8 million into the race, according to The Intercept.

Why it matters: AIPAC spent $15.8 million to remove one congressman who had just begun criticizing Israel. The race’s outcome clearly shows the pro-Israel lobby’s monetary power in U.S. politics. It comes especially at a time in which the ruling party, the Republicans, battle themselves over what ‘America First’ means.

Saudi Arabia confirms Eid al-Adha for Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Eid al-Adha will fall on Wednesday, May 27, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced Monday.

The holiday, which means “festival of sacrifice” in Arabic, falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah and coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims mark the day with special prayer, large feasts and distributing food and money to those in need.

Why it matters: Eid Mubarak to all readers observing. Plan accordingly.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: On martyrs

Quran: وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ

“Do not think of those killed in the cause of Allah as dead. They are alive with their Lord, well provided for.” — Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:169

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “The martyr has six distinctions with Allah: he is forgiven with the first drop of his blood; he sees his place in Paradise; he is dressed in the garments of faith; he is safe from the punishment of the grave; he is secure from the greatest terror; and a crown of honor is placed on his head.” — Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1663

President Donald Trump called Iran’s latest response to his peace proposal “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE” in a Sunday Truth Social post without elaborating. Washington’s 14-point proposal, sent May 5, would bar Iran from enriching uranium for 12 years in exchange for gradually lifting sanctions.

Iran’s counterproposal, sent through Pakistani mediation, called for lifting all sanctions within 30 days. Tehran offered to transfer some uranium to a third country without ending its nuclear program.

Why it matters: Washington wants Iran’s nuclear program dismantled. Tehran wants sanctions gone first. With the ceasefire still fragile, the failure to bridge that gap carries real consequences.

Israel sues New York Times over op-ed alleging rape of Palestinian detainees

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said Thursday it will sue the New York Times over an op-ed alleging Israeli forces raped Palestinian detainees. The video piece was created by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof, drawing on testimonies from 14 Palestinian detainees.

The PM’s office called it “the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel.” The Times pushed back, categorizing it as a “deeply reported piece of opinion journalism” that was “extensively fact-checked.”

Why it matters: The lawsuit follows torture accounts from released flotilla activists two weeks ago. Suing over the reporting will draw more attention to the allegations, not less, especially due to the Times firmly standing behind the piece’s publishing.

Israel-Lebanon peace talks enter third round in Washington

Israeli and Lebanese diplomats held a third round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington on Thursday, with meetings continuing Friday. Lebanon urged Israel to uphold the April 16 ceasefire, saying Israeli forces have continued striking Hezbollah positions inside Lebanon despite the truce.

The talks, which began April 14, are the first set of direct negotiations between the two countries in over than a decade. More than 2,000 Lebanese and over a dozen Israelis have been killed since March.

Why it matters: The three rounds of talks is surprising in the Middle East, consider the ‘stigma’ for Arab governments to be in contact with Israel after the Gaza war ended last year. A meaningful peace between the two sides remains uncertain, as Lebanon says that Israel is continuing to violate the mutually agreed ceasefire.

Jake Lang attempts to burn Quran outside Dearborn mosque

Anti-Islam agitator Jake Lang, 29, attempted to burn a Quran outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, on Monday. Footage circulating social media appeared to show counterprotesters and law enforcement extinguish the flames each time he tried.

A Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection participant, Lang is running for U.S. Senate in Florida. He claimed on X he was arrested before reaching the mosque. Dearborn police did not confirm the arrest.

Why it matters: Monday’s incident was not the first time Lang staged anti-Islam events outside a mosque. But his latest attempt to agitate Muslims comes as political rhetoric laced with Islamophobia increases in the U.S.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: Seeking knowledge

Quran: يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ

“Allah raises those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge by degrees.” — Surah Al-Mujadila, 58:11

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” — Sunan Ibn Majah 224

Iran struck at least 228 U.S. military sites across the Middle East since Feb. 28 — far more than the Trump administration has publicly acknowledged, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. Most strikes hit bases in Kuwait and the UAE, resulting in billions of dollars in equipment lost or destroyed.

The Post verified more than 100 images released by Iranian state media showing destroyed U.S. military sites, concluding the footage was unedited.

Why it matters: If accurate, the gap between what the administration disclosed and what Iran actually hit is significant. Americans have been told the war is largely contained. This report suggests the damage is far wider, and that the public case for the ceasefire may be built on an incomplete picture.

Released flotilla activists allege torture and sexual violence in Israeli custody

Released Global Sumud Flotilla activists described torture and mistreatment by Israeli forces on Thursday. In a social media post, the flotilla reported “a pattern of severe physical and sexual violence” in custody following Israel’s interception of the Gaza-bound convoy near Crete on April 30.

While most activists were released, Spain’s Saif Abu Keshek and Brazil’s Thiago Avila remain in Shikma Prison on hunger strike after an Israeli court extended their detention May 3. The Brazilian embassy said Avila showed visible injuries during a consular visit, describing torture, beatings and severe shoulder pain. Italy has since opened a formal investigation into the detention of its nationals.

Why it matters: The accounts move the flotilla story from seizure to abuse in Israeli custody — a significant escalation. With two activists still imprisoned, an Italian government investigation open and multiple countries tracking their nationals’ conditions, international pressure on Israel is mounting.

Ceasefire remains intact despite US, Iran exchange of fire, Trump says

President Donald Trump signaled the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains intact Thursday despite both sides exchanging fire in the Strait of Hormuz. “If there’s no ceasefire, you’re not going to have to know. You’re just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. “And they better sign their agreement fast.”

U.S. Central Command reported it thwarted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” with “self-defense strikes” without elaborating.

Why it matters: Despite Trump describing the ceasefire as intact while both sides shoot at each other in the Strait of Hormuz reflects how fragile the current arrangement is. Moreover, the president metaphorically threatened to use a nuclear weapon for a second time, showing how desperately he wants to end the war.

Gaza photojournalist wins Pulitzer Prize for documenting war from inside the enclave

Palestinian photojournalist and New York Times contributor Saher Alghorra, 29, won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography on Monday for documenting devastation and starvation in Gaza. Born, living and working in the Palestinian enclave, Alghorra has photographed the war from inside Gaza since 2023.

His winning images include a family breaking the Ramadan fast in a bombed home, wounded children and widespread destruction. He also won the World Press Photo Contest in April for his series “Witnessing Gaza.”

Why it matters: Alghorra is among a small number of journalists who have documented the war from within Gaza since 2023. His Pulitzer Prize — the most prestigious award in American journalism — is recognition that the images coming out of Gaza are not propaganda. They are history.

Texas governor threatens city funding to cancel Muslim Eid celebration at public waterpark

A planned Eid al-Adha celebration at a city-owned waterpark in Grand Prairie, Texas, was canceled Wednesday after Gov. Greg Abbott’s office threatened to pull $530,000 in public safety grants from the city. Abbott’s office called the June 1 event “discriminatory” and “unconstitutional” because it was advertised as Muslim-only.

DFW Epic Eid, the organizing group, said all are welcome but attendees must wear modest clothing.

Why it matters: A sitting governor used public funding as leverage to shut down a Muslim community event at a public facility — without a court order or legal finding. The modest dress requirement, standard at many faith-based gatherings, was recast as exclusion. For Muslim communities in Texas, the message was seen as a deliberate attack on Islamic values.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: Allah’s mercy

Quran: قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

“Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” — Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has one hundred parts of mercy, of which He sent down one part among jinn, humans, animals and insects, by which they are compassionate to one another. He has kept ninety-nine parts of mercy for the Day of Resurrection, with which He will have mercy on His creation.” — Sahih Muslim 2752

On Feb. 28, thousands across the Middle East woke up not knowing it would be one of their last days alive.

That morning, the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran so devastating that much of the country’s leadership in Tehran was killed — including its Supreme Leader.

Iran retaliated, launching strikes on U.S. military sites across the region and pulling the region into a deadly open conflict.

As of Saturday, both sides have held an uneasy ceasefire since April 8 but have failed repeatedly to formally end the war. The latest attempt came Friday, when Tehran reportedly sent Washington a new peace proposal that U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “not satisfied” with.

The war’s end remains uncertain — and so does its full cost. The conflict has killed thousands of people across at least 12 countries, spiked oil prices and made everyday goods more expensive worldwide.

Here is the war’s death toll, by country, as of Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Iran

At least 3,375 Iranians have been killed and 26,500 wounded since the war began, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.

Iran has not distinguished between civilians and combatants in its reporting on the war. U.S.-Israeli strikes have destroyed nuclear sites, defense installations, military bases and government buildings across the country.

Many of Tehran’s most senior leaders have been killed. Among them are Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Mohammad Pakpour.

The United States

At least 13 Americans have been killed and more than 200 wounded since the war began, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Seven soldiers were killed on March 1 in an Iranian strike on a base in Kuwait; the remaining six died in a refueling aircraft crash in Iraq.

However, The Intercept, an investigative news outlet, cited a defense official in an April report claiming that the U.S. in engaged in a “casualty cover-up.” The outlet said it found that at least 750 soldiers have been killed or wounded in the Middle East since October 2023.

Israel

At least 26 Israelis have been killed and 7,791 wounded since the war began, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. Among the dead are 11 soldiers and 15 civilians.

Some of Iran’s first strikes breached Israeli defenses and struck a synagogue and homes in Beit Shemesh, killing nine people and wounding 65, according to Israeli media. In a separate round of strikes, missiles killed two civilians in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.

One of the most significant strikes occurred on March 22 in the southern city of Dimona, home to Israel’s main nuclear research facility. At least 180 people were wounded.

Lebanon

At least 2,618 Lebanese have been killed and 8,094 wounded since the war began, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The numbers come from Israeli attacks after Hezbollah began launching strikes into Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran.

Lebanon’s deadliest day of the war was on April 8, when the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was reached. The Israeli Air Force bombed Beirut and other cities across the country, killing more than 300 people and wounding over 1,800 others, according to the health ministry.

While Lebanon does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, the ministry has stated roughly 25 percent of those killed are women, children and medical workers. The Israeli military maintained it has killed 1,700 Hezbollah militants.

The United Arab Emirates

At least 12 Emiratis and foreign nationals have been killed and 224 wounded since the war began, according to the United Arab Emirates Defense Ministry and state media.

The UAE was the most heavily targeted Gulf state and suffered the largest share of direct impacts from Iranian strikes. Several military bases, hotels Iran claimed were housing U.S. military personnel and even Dubai International Airport were all hit.

Iraq

At least 118 Iraqis have been killed and 361 wounded since the war began, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry and Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

The dead include 85 PMF members, six Peshmerga Kurdish fighters, seven Iraqi soldiers, four police officers and four civilians across the country.

Saudi Arabia

At least three people have been killed and 29 wounded in Saudi Arabia since the war began, according to the Saudi Health Ministry.

Iran targeted Riyadh and the Eastern Province with ballistic missiles and drones throughout the conflict, with major strikes aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base and Ras Tanura refinery on March 2. Saudi officials said they intercepted several attacks and vowed to take “all necessary measures” to defend the kingdom.

Kuwait

At least three Kuwaitis have been killed and 67 wounded since the war began, according to Kuwait’s Ministry of Health and Fire Force. A girl died from shrapnel injuries, and two fire officers were killed in the line of duty on Feb 28.

Bahrain

At least three Bahrainis have been killed and 42 wounded since the war began, according to the Bahraini Interior and Health ministries.

Iran repeatedly targeted the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, while an Iranian drone struck the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the capital, causing a fire on March 1.

Oman

At least three Omanis have been killed and 15 wounded since the war began, according to Omani state media. Two of the deaths occurred after an Iranian drone was shot down over the sultanate’s northern city of Sohar on March 13.

Oman, which maintains close diplomatic ties with Tehran, was the least targeted Gulf monarchy in the war.

Qatar

No deaths have been confirmed in Qatar. However, the Qatari Ministry of Interior said 16 people were wounded on Feb 28, most from falling shrapnel and debris by Iranian missiles.

Throughout the war, Iran launched multiple missile attacks on Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. base in the region and Central Command’s forward headquarters.

Jordan

No deaths have been reported in Jordan, though 29 people have been wounded since the war began, according to the Jordanian Armed Forces.

Iran targeted U.S. military radar installations across the kingdom, which hosts American forces at several bases within its borders.

The Israeli navy seized roughly 50 aid vessels and detained about 400 activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near the Greek island of Crete on Thursday.

Activists reported their communication systems were jammed before Israeli speedboats surrounded the vessels.

Why it matters: The GSF is one of the largest organizations aiming to pressure Israel to break its decades-long blockade of Gaza. Thursday’s seizure was the seventh time since 2010 that Israel intercepted a civilian aid flotilla bound for Gaza in international waters, acts that 11 countries and international legal bodies have called violations of maritime law. Israel has repeatedly called the flotillas a national security threat, urging activists to use “established channels.” However, Palestinians in Gaza are still suffering from food shortages, and have been blocked from the outside world since 2007.

Iran war has cost the U.S. $25 billion, Pentagon official says

Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III testified at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday that the Iran war has cost the U.S. “about $25 billion” in munitions and operational expenses.

The war began Feb. 28, when American and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury on Iran, killing much of Tehran’s leadership and thousands of Iranian civilians. Fifteen U.S. servicemembers and 26 Israelis have been killed in retaliatory Iranian attacks, according to official figures.

Why it matters: $25 billion in 60 days puts the Iran war on pace to become one of the most expensive American military engagements in recent history. Those costs will shape budget debates in Congress and fall on taxpayers already strained by the conflict’s effect on everyday prices.

UAE announces OPEC exit, threatening Saudi Arabia’s grip on oil markets

The United Arab Emirates announced Thursday it will leave the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on May 1, dealing a significant blow to the group’s decades-long control of global oil prices.

UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazroui called the move strategic, saying increased output beyond OPEC guidelines could drive prices lower.

Why it matters: As one of OPEC’s largest producers, the UAE’s exit is expected to further strain relations with Gulf neighbor Saudi Arabia, the group’s de facto leader. The departure fractures the Gulf’s unified energy front at the worst possible moment, with the Strait of Hormuz still contested and oil markets already rattled by the Iran war. Lower prices may offer consumers some relief, but the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi split carries consequences far beyond oil.

King Charles, Mayor Mamdani appear together at 9/11 memorial in Manhattan

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Gov. Kathy Hochul at a wreath-laying service Wednesday honoring victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center site in Manhattan.

The visit is part of the royal couple’s four-day U.S. trip ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary of independence. Charles and Camilla met President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Monday before Charles addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Mamdani’s presence at the Sept. 11 memorial, as the first Muslim mayor of New York City, carried weight that went unspoken at the ceremony. Standing alongside a British king and a sitting governor, at the site most associated with Islamophobia’s sharpest spike in American history, it was a moment worth noting.

Bosnian mosque reopens being destroyed by Serb forces more than 30 years ago

The Dugalica Mosque in Nevesinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, reopened Monday after being demolished by Serb forces during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. Reconstruction of the 500-year-old Ottoman-era structure began in 2023, funded by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The ceremony was attended by Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina Deputy Head Enes Ljevaković, Turkish Ambassador to Sarajevo Emin Akseki, Foundations General Director Sinan Aksu and hundreds of Bosniaks.

Why it matters: A mosque that stood for five centuries was erased in a war that killed over 100,000 people. Its reopening is not just architectural — it is a community reclaiming what was taken by force a generation ago. For Bosniaks, the restored minaret is as much a statement as it is a place of worship.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: Keeping family ties

Quran: وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ

“Fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and honor the bonds of kinship.” — Surah an-Nisa, 4:1

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain the ties of kinship.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 5988

President Donald Trump extended the U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely Tuesday and announced a three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire Thursday after American mediation. Both remain fragile.

Iranian officials dismissed their extension as “meaningless,” saying the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports violates the original agreement. In Lebanon, Israel carried out fresh strikes within hours of Thursday’s announcement, killing two people, including a journalist.

Why it matters: The dual ceasefires are the closest diplomatic off-ramps since the U.S. and Israel began their war against Iran on Feb. 28, killing thousands in Iran and Lebanon. With the Strait of Hormuz still closed and Iranian negotiators refusing new talks, gas prices remain high. Lebanese officials appear more willing to negotiate with Israelis, as both sides held direct talks in Washington last week and agreed in principle to disarm Hezbollah.

Congressman introduces Mamdani Act to deport and denaturalize Muslims, socialists

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) introduced legislation Monday that would deport, denaturalize or bar from entry any noncitizen affiliated with or advocating for socialist, Marxist or Islamic fundamentalist movements. The bill is named after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a Muslim, self-described socialist and naturalized U.S. citizen.

Why it matters: The legislation targets Muslim Americans by ideology and religious identity, stripping federal courts of oversight over deportation and denaturalization decisions. It also reflects a broader rise in Islamophobic rhetoric, as Roy posted “no more Muslims” on X in March with the hashtag #SaveTexas.

Hajj pilgrims begin arriving in Saudi Arabia while Iranians are barred

The 2026 Hajj season opened this week, with the first pilgrims arriving by air, sea and land in Saudi Arabia on April 18 from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Indonesia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered full mobilization of security resources across Mecca and Medina. Iranian pilgrims, however, are barred. The Kingdom suspended visa processing for Iranian nationals and canceled all direct flights between the two countries.

Why it matters: The exclusion of Iranian pilgrims shows how geopolitical conflict is disrupting Islam’s fifth pillar this year. Iranian strikes hit U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom’s major oil refineries, sharply raising tensions between two countries that had only begun mending decades of mistrust in 2023.

Obama, Mamdani sing with Bronx preschoolers in first meeting

Former President Barack Obama met New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the first time Saturday at a South Bronx pre-K center, where the two read to preschoolers and led a singalong that went viral online. Their meeting came days after Mamdani’s first 100 days in office and after U.S President Donald Trump accused him of “destroying New York.”

Why it matters: Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City. Obama’s public show of support could signal Democrats to follow the mayor’s lead. However, it came as Trump threatened to pull federal funding from the city, despite praising Mamdani publicly for months.

Kyrie Irving changes Instagram photo to Palestinian child reportedly blocked from school

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, 34, updated his Instagram profile picture Tuesday to an image of a Palestinian boy looking back at Israeli soldiers through a barbed-wire fence in the occupied West Bank. The photo depicts children in Umm al-Khair village blocked from school after settlers reportedly erected a fence along their route.

Why it matters: Irving is an NBA All-Star with 20.3 million Instagram followers and remains one of the most visible American athletes using his platform for Palestinian advocacy. The image he chose, a child with a schoolbook, speaks directly to the reality of Israeli occupation.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: Steadfastness

Quran verse: وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives and fruits — but give good tidings to the patient.” — Surah al-Baqarah, 2:155

Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks, and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” — Sahih Muslim 2999

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Iran has fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday, one day after announcing Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire. Iranian officials said the reopening was coordinated with the deal, which is set to halt weeks of deadly fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The agreement follows direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington on Tuesday, their first since 1993.

Why it matters: The strait’s reopening caused global gas prices to plummet 10% within hours — a major breakthrough amid months of international economic instability. Since Feb. 28, the Iran war — including the Hezbollah-Israel conflict in Lebanon — killed thousands of civilians and wrecked global oil trade, driving up the cost of everyday goods.

Türkiye reels after rare school shootings

An eighth-grade student shot and killed nine people and wounded 13 others at a middle school in Türkiye’s Kahramanmaraş province Wednesday before taking his own life, officials said. Authorities said the suspect used firearms taken from his father, a former police officer, and fired into two classrooms.

The attack came one day after another school shooting in Şanlıurfa province, where a former student wounded 16 people before killing himself in a shootout with police.

Why it matters: The rare wave of school violence shocked Türkiye — 11 people were killed and 29 wounded in two back-to-back shootings. For comparison, there have been 60 reported attacks on K-12 schools in Türkiye since 1978, with 55 killed and 142 wounded. In the United States, there have been nearly 3,000 reported school attacks, with close to 950 killed and up to 2,600 wounded since 1978.

Pope Leo XIV opens Africa tour in Algeria to promote Muslim-Christian friendship

Pope Leo XIV began his 11-day Africa tour in Algeria on Monday, making the first-ever papal visit to the country. At the Great Mosque of Algiers, the 70-year-old American pontiff greeted worshippers with “Assalamu Alaykum” and paid tribute to those killed by France during Algeria’s war of independence.

The pope said he hoped to strengthen Muslim-Christian unity as he continued his tour in Cameroon on Wednesday, with further stops planned in Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Why it matters: The visit is a notable gesture of interfaith diplomacy and historical reconciliation. Algeria’s former colonial ruler, France, was majority Catholic. Yet, despite that fraught history, fewer than 10,000 Catholics call Algeria home today, and their property and churches remain protected by the government.

Israel places Omar Suleiman and Bassem Youssef on ‘Antisemitic Influencers’ list

Israel has placed American Muslim figures Imam Omar Suleiman and comedian Bassem Youssef on its 2025 list of “Top 10 Prominent Antisemitic Influencers” — a designation both men sharply rejected. Suleiman, who has Palestinian ancestry, called the list an Israeli “hit list,” while both said their criticism targets Israeli government policy, not Jewish people.

Podcasters Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, who have become vocal critics of Israeli policy in Gaza, were also included.

Why it matters: The controversy is intensifying debate over the line between criticism of Israel and antisemitism, as the Israeli government and its allies continue to equate policy criticism with hatred of the Jewish faith.

Quran verse and Hadith of the week: On trials and patience

Quran verse:

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُكُمْ

“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such trial has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you?”
— Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:214

Hadith:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever is patient, Allah will grant him patience. No one is given a gift better and more comprehensive than patience.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim

In January, Mohamad Altabaa, a third-year Texas Tech medical student, drove by an abandoned school, and had an idea.

“I don’t know how to explain it. The first time I came up to this building, I just saw the vision,” the 25-year-old recalled. “I didn’t see what it was, I saw what it could be.”

What he saw would have made the average person question his “vision.”

The Arnett Elementary School in Lubbock, Texas, had been closed for more than a decade. There was no electricity, gas or water, and even concerns about asbestos.

“Ninety-nine percent of people would’ve walked away,” Altabaa said.

His goal was ambitious: transform the deteriorating, six-acre campus not only into a mosque, but into a thriving Muslim community hub, the Unity Center, and have it open by Ramadan.

At the time, the holy month was 45 days away.

Altabaa called up the realtor and had built a rapport with him. Little did Altabaa know however, that several people were already bidding for the property, wanting to transform it into either sports or industrial complexes.

“He called me and said ‘If you guys don’t put a bid in today, it’s getting sold,” Altabaa recalled.

So he called up a wealthy community member.

“I literally asked ‘Do you trust me?’ and they said yes,” Altabaa explained. “I said okay, I need to buy a school.”

Altabaa secured his first donor in a three-minute phone call, and bought the property below market value.

“Glory to God, that’s how the whole thing happened,” he said.

Altabaa’s excitement was short-lived though. Reality set it the moment he stepped inside.

I don’t know anything about construction,” he said. “Turns out, the building was in way worse condition than we thought. We found seven gas leaks. Seven.”

Saadedine Habbal, head the Unity Center’s maintenance committee and Altabaa’s classmate, described the situation.

“The lights were just ancient, and the bathrooms, you could just tell no human would have wanted to go in there,” Habbal said.

Instead of turning back, the two medical students did what they do best: research meticulously. They gathered some more classmates and created a five-member maintenance team and divided each task.

One handled the tech side, another dealt with the gas leaks. Others did landscaping and got connected with contractors to make sure things were done professionally.

But the team was too small. So Altabaa turned to social media.

On Jan. 4, he posted an Instagram video about the property he bought and his vision.

It went viral, surpassing a million views.

“It changed everything,” he said.

People began showing up to help, not only from Lubbock, but from across the country, according to Altabaa.

“We were averaging 60-70 volunteers in a city where maybe 10 percent of the population is Muslim,” he recalled. “People flew in from parts of California, Chicago, New York, Denver, just to help.”

Even local, non-Muslim contractors lent their services at a discount, according to Habbal.

“We found them from the neighborhood or even previous attendees of the school,” Habbal said. “They gave us amazing prices because they wanted to see it happen – to see this place flourish again.”

They even got help internationally.

The center raised more than $100,000 from a Launchgood fundraiser, averaging $55 per donation according to Altabaa.

“We had people donating from Zimbabwe, Great Britain, London, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia,” he said. “That tells you this is a community project, built brick by brick.

Altabaa, like other Muslims his age, want to see mosques more than just prayer spaces.

“Mosques in Muslim-majority countries serve a very different purpose. You pray and leave,” he said. “But here (in the United States), we’re not a Muslim-majority country. We need spaces where people can hang out, relax and meet other Muslims.”

Because of the time crunch, Altabaa and his band of volunteers focused on the gymnasium because it was large enough for a prayer space, sports and community gatherings – a start to his vision.

They set up new lights, a professional sound system and even a game room, according to Altabaa.

He even told the local Muslim Student Association to make a wishlist of everything they wanted – which included a PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and a water fountain, to name a few.

“People asked if we’re going overboard,” he recalled. “I personally think that’s exactly the point.”

The Unity Center opened its doors on Feb. 18, the first day of Ramadan, and even held a community meal packing.

Both Muslims and non-Muslims made 30,000 meals for the homeless and had a barbeque.

On the first night of the holy month, Habbal estimated that more than 500 people filled the space for Taraweeh prayers.

What happened next, according to Altabaa and Habbal, showed them why they truly built this center from scratch.

“Right after we finished Taraweeh, we rolled up the carpets, and kids immediately starting playing basketball,” Habbal recalled. “We then put up a ping-pong table, set up the Nintendo Switch, and the uncles and aunties each had rooms to get together and drink tea.”

“It was a place of worship that immediately turned into a community center,” he added.

Despite the wide variety of support, though, not everyone has been excited about the Unity Center.

Texas has been dealing with Islamophobia, not only from far-right figures like Amy Mek – who called the initiative “expanding the Islamic conquest” and alleged that the center was tied to the Muslim Brotherhood – but even from the government.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the country – a foreign terror organization in November 2025. The group has since sued the governor, claiming he is violating their First Amendment Rights.

These attacks, as Habbal sees it, are simply from skeptics who don’t really know Muslims.

“It’s easy to spread fear because fear sells,” he said. “But I urge people: come meet us. We want the same things in life… just come say hi and you’ll see we are exactly the same.”

The Unity Center is still renovating the six-acre campus, aiming to use it entirely, according to Altabaa.

Despite the hateful rhetoric and the work that lies ahead, Altabaa turns to his faith for continued inspiration.

“Our religion says that even if the Day of Judgement is tomorrow and you have a seed in your hand, plant it,” he said, referencing a Hadith, or saying, of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. “You might never eat from the fruit of that seed, but maybe your kids will. Maybe your grandchildren. Or, maybe nobody will. But you will plant it anyway.”

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire through Pakistani mediation Tuesday night. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had suspended “the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” calling it a “double sided ceasefire.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that negotiations will begin Friday in Islamabad.

Why it matters: The U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran on Feb. 28, beginning a conflict that disrupted oil trade, damaged the global economy over 40 days and killed thousands across the Middle East, particularly in Iran and Lebanon. While the ceasefire is set for only two weeks, Vice President JD Vance flew to Pakistan on Friday for talks aimed at fully ending the conflict.

Israeli airstrikes kill 300 people across Lebanon in 10 minutes

The Israeli military struck cities across Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 300 people and wounding more than 1,000 others in 10 minutes, according to Lebanese media.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a “surprise” attack on Hezbollah.

Why it matters: Wednesday’s strikes were among the deadliest attacks on Lebanese soil in modern history. The assault came just 12 hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would join the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to pull out of negotiations.

Trump mocks Islam on Truth Social

On Easter Sunday, President Donald Trump posted a statement on Truth Social ordering Iran to “open the f---in’ Strait, you crazy b------s, or you’ll be living in hell,” before adding “Praise be to Allah.”

Why it matters: The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Trump’s comments as “deranged” and “anti-Muslim,” noting his use of “Allah” — the Arabic word for God — in a profane post. The remarks also drew criticism from conservative Christians, many of whom supported Trump in the 2024 election.

100,000 Muslim worshippers attend Friday prayers after 40-day ban

An estimated 100,000 Muslims attended Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on Friday, following a 40-day closure imposed by Israel.

Thousands had gathered at the mosque for dawn prayers the day before, according to the Jordanian Waqf, which administers the compound.

Why it matters: Al-Aqsa is Islam’s third-holiest site. Israel announced its closure on Feb. 28 — the first day of the Iran war and during the sanctified month of Ramadan. It was the site’s longest closure by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and drew condemnation from several Muslim-majority nations.

Mamdani fills 100,000 potholes across New York by 100th day in office

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the filling of 100,000 potholes on Monday — his 100th day in office.

The 34-year-old filmed himself patching the final hole alongside city workers in Staten Island and shared the moment on social media.

Why it matters: Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor. He built a broad coalition of Muslim, Jewish, middle-class and immigrant voters during his campaign, pledging to improve daily life for New Yorkers. He told NBC News the milestone represented the most potholes the city’s Department of Transportation “had filled in over a decade.”

Quran Verse and Hadith of the Week

On Allah’s Mercy

Quran verse: قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهِ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ “Say: Oh My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” — Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53

Hadith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has one hundred parts of mercy, of which He sent down one part among jinn, humans, animals and insects, through which they show affection to one another. The remaining ninety-nine parts Allah has kept for the Day of Resurrection.” — Sahih Muslim 2752

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The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, both sides said Tuesday night.

President Donald Trump announced his agreement to the proposal on Truth Social, saying that he will “suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”

Iran’s National Supreme Council released a statement saying it would begin negotiations in Islamabad on Friday.

However, they also warned “our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.”

The de-escalating news came after U.S. forces struck Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil hub in the Persian Gulf.

On Tuesday morning, Trump gave the Iranians a deadline till 8 p.m. Eastern to agree to a ceasefire or “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

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President Donald Trump delivered his first address on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran at the White House Wednesday night, a conflict which has torn through his Republican base and brought his approval rating to an all-time low of 33 percent.

Nonetheless, he applauded Operation Epic Fury and said the U.S. “is winning bigger than ever before.”

Here are some statements he made:

The war will last another two to three weeks

Trump said that the conflict is expected to last another two to three weeks and vowed to “hit Iran extremely hard.”

“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” he added.

Trump had originally said on Feb. 28 — when the war began — that it would last between four to six weeks.

He gave his address in the fifth week of the conflict.

The war was not waged for regime change

“Regime change was never our goal,” Trump said in the address, contradicting an earlier Truth Social post.

On Jan. 13, the president encouraged Iranians to “keep protesting” and that “help is on its way’ during deadly anti-regime demonstrations that had experts speculating about the Islamic Republic’s downfall.

Despite saying it was not the objective, Trump claimed that “regime change has occurred because of their [the Iranians] original leader’s death,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing by an Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28.

The Islamic Republic’s regime is largely intact, however.

Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, was elected in March to succeed him, and an intelligence source told the Washington Post that “consistent analysis” shows “that the regime is not in danger” and “retains control of the Iranian public.”

He claimed Iran is to blame for the gas price surge

Trump acknowledged the surge in gas prices Americans are dealing with as a result of the war, but blamed it on Iran.

“Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home,” he said. “This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict.”

Before the war began, the average gallon of gas in the U.S. cost between $2.80 to $2.90. At the time of Trump’s address, it had gone up to $4.06.

He ‘did what no other president was willing to do’

Trump said that his launching of the war against Iran was an action that previous leaders would not have dared to make.

“Essentially, I did what no other president was willing to do,” Trump said. “They made mistakes, and I am correcting them.”

He claimed that Israel would not have existed if he did not end President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal and called Iran the region’s “bully.”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the decades-long Supreme Leader of Iran, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 during the opening hours of a war aimed at taking out Tehran’s leadership and nuclear program.

One week later, Iran’s Assembly of Experts picked his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, to succeed him on March 8.

The 88-member clerical body selected the 56-year-old during one of the most dangerous moments in the Islamic Republic’s history. It marks the first time the leadership was transferred from father to son and follows the killing of his predecessor.

Mojtaba is virtually unknown to the Iranian public, but his influence runs deep within the regime’s political and religious system.

Who is Khamenei 2.0?

Mojtaba Khamenei was born in September 1969 in the Iranian city of Mashhad, one of the holiest cities for Shia Muslims.

By the time the Islamic Revolution occurred in 1979, his father was already a prominent cleric. He helped the first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, topple the Pahlavi monarchy and establish the current regime.

The following year, the Iran-Iraq War broke out, lasting for eight brutal years. Despite Mojtaba enlisting in one of the last years of the conflict, he began a lasting relationship with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The group is Iran’s elite military wing that protects the regime at all costs. As a result, it has influence throughout the political system.

After the war, though, Mojtaba officially left the military to continue decades-long religious studies at various seminaries in Qom, another major Shia center of learning.

Despite his background, he never held an official clerical position, according to the BBC, but he kept contact with the IRGC and began immersing himself in regime circles.

Mojtaba’s father opposed his son’s succession

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly told the Assembly of Experts in a 2025 meeting he would not want Mojtaba to succeed him, according to the New York Times.

The late supreme leader had feared that choosing his son could set a hereditary precedent resembling a monarchy; a system the revolution topped 50 years ago.

Nevertheless, Mojtaba’s strong ties to the IRGC are widely believed to be one of the main factors in his ascension.

How are the United States and Israel viewing his ascendancy?

Not favorably.

United States President Donald Trump called Mojtaba Khamenei “unacceptable” to Axios on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also against it.

When asked at a press conference Thursday about targeting Mojtaba, he said, “I wouldn’t take out a life insurance policy on any of the leaders” and called him a “puppet” of the IRGC.

Although both disapprove of Mojtaba, Trump and Netanyahu appear to have different plans for Iranian leadership.

Trump suggested the U.S. had some figures in mind to replace Ali Khamenei and not destroy the regime outright.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” he said March 3, further indicating the disagreement, as Israel most likely killed them.

Netanyahu argued for decades that an Iran war should lead to regime change. Reza Pahlavi, the late Shah’s son, is reportedly his top pick.

Will he seek peace with the United States and Israel?

Mojtaba Khamenei will probably take a hardline stance alongside the IRGC, as many security officials see negotiations early in the war as a sign of weakness.

Moreover, the IRGC is behind most missile attacks targeting Israel, American bases across the Middle East and economic infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.

But a personal situation may also shape Mojtaba’s stance.

His mother, wife and daughter were killed alongside his father on Feb. 28, according to Iranian state media.

Therefore, it would be unlikely for the new supreme leader to seek immediate peace.

Eight months ago, the U.S. launched precise strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities. It was during Iran’s 12-day war with Israel, which fell short of a full American entry.

The strikes were driven by Washington’s demand on Tehran to end its nuclear program.

A few months prior, in May 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had 880 pounds of 60 percent enriched uranium - 90 percent is required for a nuclear warhead.

Tehran has maintained that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.

The issue has not been resolved and is causing the Middle East - still recovering from the effects of the Gaza war - to brace for another potential conflict.

Escalations amid negotiations

On Jan. 28, 2026, President Donald Trump warned on Truth Social that “a massive armada is heading to Iran,” and if Tehran didn’t “come to the table… the next attack will be far worse!”

Several warships, including the massive aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, were deployed to the Arabian Sea, off the southern coast of Iran, according to CENTCOM. The buildup has been widely reported as being far larger than that of the Iraq war.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his nation’s military has “their fingers on the trigger,” and would “immediately and powerfully respond” to an attack.

Despite the threats, particularly from Trump, American and Iranian diplomats have been holding de-escalation talks, first meeting in Oman earlier this month, then in Davos.

Another meeting is scheduled in Geneva on Thursday, nearly a week after Trump gave Tehran a deadline of “10-15 days.”

Does Trump want war?

His public statements suggest reluctance, preferring instead to force Iran into submission at the negotiating table through intimidation - though military action isn’t being ruled out.

At a White House breakfast last week, Trump responded to a reporter’s question on the issue of limited strikes instead of war.

He said he was “considering” limited strikes.

Predicting what will happen is tough, even for experts. However, former U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Dennis Ross, argued in a Politico op-ed that both sides don’t want a war, even Trump.

“He (Trump) thinks that he can use limited force for coercive purposes to achieve a deal and that the Iranians have an interest in keeping the conflict limited,” Ross wrote.

How does this matter for Trump politically?

Trump is flirting with the idea of some sort of military action. But another war in the Middle East could spike oil prices and wreak havoc on the U.S. economy, a crucial component of presidential approval.

Already dealing with public pressure on affordability issues and the Epstein files, Trump’s current ratings are less than 42 percent, according to Decisions Desk HQ. A war would surely push it lower.

At his State of the Union address Wednesday night, Trump said his “preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,” before issuing another warning to Iran.

Trump has repeatedly framed himself in his second term as a peacemaker, although he has ordered strikes on several countries, even a full-on attack on Venezuela in January.

But he still claims credit for ending the war in Gaza through the establishment of his Board of Peace, and the Azerbaijan-Armenia and India-Pakistan ceasefire agreements.

Moreover, one of his campaign promises was to end “forever wars.” A full conflict, especially one with troops on the ground within Iran’s territory, would surely undermine his framing.

What’s next?

For the moment, Washington’s aggressive stance appears as leverage. However, Trump’s deadline is approaching, and despite the wishes of both governments to avoid war, a miscalculation could sow unavoidable repercussions.

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Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) last month show convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein obtain multiple pieces of cloth from Islam’s holiest site in 2017, including part of the sacred Kiswa.

The disclosure drew condemnation, as the Kiswa, – the black and gold embroidered cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – is deeply revered by Muslims worldwide.

Saudi authorities replace the kiswa annually. Pieces are typically gifted only to high-profile Muslims such as religious scholars and heads of state. Epstein was not Muslim.

The emails, dated February to March 2017, are part of 3.5 million files pertaining to Epstein-related documents released by the DOJ.

Three intermediaries – Aziza Alahmadi, CEO and founder of mobile gaming company Boss Bunny Games; Saudi contact Abdullah Al Maari; and Epstein associate Daphne Wallace – are shown discussing shipment logistics, an invoice and delivery to Epstein’s St. Thomas residence in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

However, they leave key questions unanswered, such as why Epstein likely bought them and whether they were authentic or complied with Saudi protocol.

The correspondence suggests it was arranged in advance and handled commercially.

A Feb. 1 email shows Maari writing to Wallace: “We will provide you the needful information of this shipment. I will let you know once we ship it.”

Subsequent emails discuss invoicing, with Wallace noting that “the value of the goods must be in US dollars,” according to the records.

The cargo was described as “artwork” being internationally shipped via British Airways, but the value listed in the mentioned invoice is not explained.

That same day, Maari sent attachments including images of cloth pieces with descriptions.

One image shows a green cloth bearing Arabic calligraphy “from inside the Kaaba. Where no one touched,” the file states.

Another shows a piece of the Kiswa described as the exterior cloth that people “pray while their hands on it.”

A third image shows a black and gold-embroidered that was “made from the same factory and material that covers the Kaaba.”

@Islamic could not independently verify the authenticity of the pieces.

In a March 7 email, Epstein himself wrote that it was “shipped from Saudi Arabia to FL.”

Wallace confirmed weeks later on March 21 that the shipment was delivered to Epstein’s residence.

“I am happy to confirm that the artwork was safely delivered to Mr. Epstein’s home,” she wrote. “His managers are taking care of the unpacking and will let him know when everything is ready for his review.”

The following day, Alahmadi, the Boss Bunny CEO, wrote directly to Epstein about one of the cloth pieces’ significance.

“The black piece was touched by minimum 10 million Muslims of different denominations, Sunni Shia and others.” she wrote.

“They walk around the Kaaba seven rounds then every one tries as much as they can to touch it and they kept their prayers, wishes, tears and hopes on this piece,” she continued. “Hoping after that all their prayers to be accepted.”

The emails do not explain why Epstein sought the cloth pieces or what he intended to do with them.

What is documented is that the shipment was facilitated primarily by Alahmadi and Maari.

How they became acquainted with the sex offender remains unclear, but they are mentioned repeatedly in the DOJ’s files.

They show hundreds of emails exchanged between Alahmadi, Epstein and associates from 2016 to 2018 not only regarding the cloth pieces but also gifts and requests to visit Epstein’s New York and St. Thomas residences.

Al Maari appears in 44 emails only discussing the shipment and is not shown writing directly to Epstein.

Although the files show the transfer logistics of the Kaaba cloth pieces, they do not explain who authorized it, nor whether Saudi protocol was followed

The Saudi government has not publicly commented on the emails.

In September, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a “Board of Peace” to govern the war-stricken Gaza Strip and help rebuild it.

One month later, a ceasefire was called in the Palestinian enclave, ending two years of war that killed more than 71,000 people and left over 120,000 wounded.

Fast forward to Wednesday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who orchestrated the war, announced he will join the board.

Which exposes its absurdity and greatly undermines its credibility for multiple reasons.

Netanyahu’s war not only killed tens of thousands, but wreaked havoc on Gaza’s infrastructure and food supply.

Over 90% of the enclave’s buildings were destroyed in a 200,000 tonne bombing campaign, equivalent to six nuclear bombs.

Gazans faced famine from August to December 2025, killing more than 440 people.

To top it off, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 for allegedly using “starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population” between October 2023 to May 2024.

An alleged war criminal chairing a board of peace makes absolutely no sense.

Trump’s board of peace was first outlined in his 20-point peace plan for Gaza. It stipulated that the body would have “oversight and supervision” over a Palestinian technocratic committee that would run the enclave but would be at the lowest level of the administration.

Essentially, the board would have the final say, contradicting the peace plan, which states that the U.S. “recognizes” Palestinian statehood.

There is absolutely no recognition of this sort as the board stands, with Palestinians being at the lowest level of the administration, and Netanyahu at the top.

Rather, it is the complete opposite, as the prime minister stated in September “there will be no Palestinian state.”

The board’s system clearly has its flaws, and despite numerous Muslim-majority and Arab countries have been invited as co-chairs, such as Egypt, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and others, several European allies have declined.

France, one of the countries which pushed for the ceasefire and officially recognized Palestine as a state back in September, rejected its invitation, saying it would “replace the United Nations.”

Sweden and Norway, which also recognized Palestine, issued similar statements.

Inviting Netanyahu to the board makes it void of legitimacy.