Islam: Exploring the Muslim Faith

Islamicity offers an immense amount of information, articles, and educational resources for free. The site does a good job of bringing a human element to the faith, but the quality of the articles does vary from author to author. For a deeper look into Islam, click on the topics of the left navigation bar under "Discover Islam," including the "Islamic Glossary," and the "Ask the Imam" feature.

A Clear Guide to Islam is, well, just that. Written by a British convert, this guide, aimed both at new Muslims and those interested in the faith, takes you through the major components of the religion and the accompanying lifestyle from a conservative, orthodox Middle Eastern perspective. Navigate using the left sidebar to such useful features as a glossary of Islamic terms. Check out the "Links and Downloads" page for an excellent list of resources.

Islam For Today is a large collection of articles encompassing all aspects of Islam and emphasizing its heterogeneity, including its history, women's place in it, and the dispelling of misinformed beliefs about the religion. Of particular note is the site's section on the history of Islam, found through the left navigation bar.

877-Why-Islam is an evangelical but open-minded and inviting site that educates about Islam in a friendly manner. Besides a telephone hotline to which you can call with any questions about Islam, the site will also set up a visit to a mosque for you, and has a number of articles on even controversial topics such as Islam's relationship with terrorism and polygamy.

Al Islam , under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, takes pains to describe in detail nearly every aspect of the practice of Islam. Of particular note is the "Hajj Step by Step" feature in the Hajj section, accessible through the navigation bar on the left. Once the new window opens, click on different steps of the Hajj to access video and explanations of each step of this sacred pilgrimage that every Muslim is obligated to take.

Islam Guide is not the prettiest site, but its beginning sections on Islam and science are an interesting and unusual look at the intersection of this faith with scientific fact and history.

Islam For Today brings you this interesting article on the origins of the Sunni/Shia split in Islam, which constitutes the main division of sects in the religion today. Click to the parent site for more about Islam and its history, including very informative links on Islamic culture and arts, science, medicine, and more.

The Foreign Policy Research Institute published this article on the historical, cultural, and religious differences, or lack thereof, between Asian and Arab Islam. This is a must-read if you want to truly understand the variation of people and cultures that exist among the Muslims of the world.

Bismika Allahuma contains a number of articles intended to combat misconceptions about Islam. Created in response to perceived "anti-Islam polemics" on the Web, this site aims to portray the true nature of Islam through argument and education, based on textual evidence. It is written from an orthodox perspective.

Islamic Awareness takes a close scholarly look at much of Islam and the claims against it, relying greatly on textual analysis for its arguments. You'll find here a great many articles, responses to "orientalists," and explanations of Islamic history, beliefs, practices, and texts.

Quran Explorer 's online Quran tool is a truly remarkable resource for anyone interested in the Quran at any level. This easily navigable and usable applet lets you jump to any point in the Quran and display the passage of your choice. You can choose from a number of different translations to show alongside the original Arabic, and listen to one of five beautiful recitations. The ability to have it automatically repeat a passage recitation multiple times turns this into a valuable Quran memorization tool as well. Get to the applet by clicking on the "Launch Quran Explorer" button (ignore the rest of the site features, as they don't function well).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 's page on Islamic Art is a fascinating look into more than 1,000 years of Islamic art, architecture, artifacts, and writing. There is an unbelievably large amount of interactive multimedia content to help you explore this rich tradition. There is no one central way to navigate this section, so explore and you'll be sure to find interesting features on past and present exhibits, the permanent collection, and specific pieces of art such as the calligraphic "Tughra of Suleyman the Magnificent".

IslamicFinder 's guide on the proper way to pray is a good integration of animation, audio, and explanation and takes you step by step through this act of worship.

Islam Way 's "The Right Way to Pray" shows you all the steps to regular prayer for Muslims with this animation, even including sound for the crucial recitations. For the necessary ablution before any prayer, check out its accompanying animated guide to this ritual cleansing.

The State University of New York at Buffalo has posted this in-depth pamphlet on Islamic prayer for your education. Less flashy than Islam Way's animation, this site gets the job done with good explanations and accompanying illustrations.

IslamicFinder , noted above for its animated prayer tutorial, houses numerous tools and a generous amount of information on Islam, the practice of Islamic prayer, and the Islamic calendar. You'll also find a useful Islamic Web directory here.

Salat-o-matic uses easy search features and Google Maps to help you find a mosque anywhere in the country (and around the world). Its mosque profiles contain information on hours, facilities (including gender barriers), and reviews by other users.

Ministry of Hajj of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the governing body of the Hajj pilgrimage. You'll find all the official information on the pilgrimage here, including travel dates, regional service providers and approved travel agents, historical information, and statistics. This site is a must-visit for the prospective pilgrim.

Channel 4 , of the United Kingdom, has an extensive multimedia page on the Hajj. Besides the numerous resources for those making the journey, it includes an animated "Virtual Hajj" feature that lets you experience the steps of the pilgrimage online. You'll also find a link to watch the happenings of the Hajj live, as well as much more on the history and practice of the Hajj.

Hajtips.com is a simple but informative Web site that helps you prepare for your Hajj and all that it entails, including travel, transportation, food, and more. It also has some suggestions for improvements that need to be made in Saudi, including increased capacity at airports and prayer sites for women.

Hajj Now provides practical information and services for Muslims in North America planning to make the pilgrimage. Here you'll find information on visas, travel, travel packages, and more.

The Association of British Hujjaj UK exists to help Muslims living in the United Kingdom make the Hajj. Visit this site for all practical information related to traveling from the United Kingdom to Saudi for the pilgrimage.

The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America is one of the leading certifiers of halal food. Its site includes this explanation of halal, as well as a concise consumer guide, halal food glossary, and FAQ section for the consumer.

Sound Vision 's "Halal & healthy" page contains many articles on specific issues regarding food safety, health, and halal. The articles touch on various topics such as mad cow disease, kosher versus halal, and advice for Muslim businesses.

Islamic Concerns ' mission is to educate Muslims on vegetarianism, and why it is the preferred lifestyle for Islam and a natural extension of a halal food tradition. Explore this site for a wealth of information on the food industry, the history of vegetarianism in Islam, and links to other vegetarian and Islamic sites.

Myhalalmeat.com ships halal meat and cheese products to your doorstep via FedEx, expertly packed and certified by multiple Islamic agencies.

Midamar Halal ffers pizzas, pies, and other products in addition to a large catalog of meats. Order online on their secure site to have any of the items delivered by FedEx.

Zabihah.com 's volunteer-driven site has a massive database of halal restaurants that's searchable by area. It brings you a map with all locations labeled, as well as user ratings and reviews. Be warned though: the site does not actually certify restaurants' halal status, trusting the establishments themselves, and includes partially halal places (such as those that serve halal food but also alcohol, which is never halal). The site is also accessible from Internet-enabled mobile devices.

The Brass Crescent Awards honor yearly the best of the Islamic blogosphere in a range of categories. Look through past winners on this site for a variety of well-written blogs exploring Islamic issues, culture, and life.

Mere Islam 's intelligent commentary focuses primarily on religious issues and news, but does take time out to look at current events related to Islam. Check out the right sidebars for a grand list of Islam sites and blogs, as well as a monthly book recommendation.

Abdur Rahman's Corner is written by a British convert interested in the spiritual side of Islam, Sufism, and education. Spend some time on this calm and beautiful site and explore the well-written posts that are often peppered with Islamic poetry and calligraphy. For more information on Sufism, check out his long list of links on the "Sufi Links" page.

Dervish , written by a Muslim woman living in Melbourne, Australia, has a clean and serene design to it that complements the writing. Musing on all matters of Islam, as well as the issues faced by a female Muslim in the western world, the posts of this blog are well organized into topical categories on the left side of the page for browsing.

Abdiel tracks and comments on the news, culture, and issues of Muslims and the Muslim community in North America. This blogger focuses both on a positive and modern view of Islam, and the misconceptions and criticism it faces.

Altmuslim is densely rich in content, at times leaving your head swimming. This news and analysis site strives to give you a critical and open-minded look at the issues and news of the Islamic community that are often overlooked by the mainstream media. Features include podcasts and opinion pieces, and the site is also available for mobile devices. It even invites you to submit your own article for possible inclusion.

Islamic Voice , published in Bangalore, India, brings you a large dose of international Islamic news monthly, including news briefs, features, and interviews. The multitude of sections, unorganized for the most part, make the site somewhat unwieldy, but a wealth of content lies beneath the difficult design.

RadioIslam.com bills itself as the first Muslim broadcast to include a variety of programming beyond the Quran. On this site you can listen to programs on Islamic issues, news, and music, as well as recordings of the full Quran.

YouTubeIslam is exactly what it sounds like: a clone of the popular video site, featuring solely videos on Islamic topics. Sign up for free and post your own, or browse and search the existing catalogue.

Islamicity offers an immense amount of information, articles, educational and community resources, and multimedia content, all conveniently online. Browse a great deal of its content for free: use its powerful tools to explore the Quran or to find a mosque; connect to others using its marriage-focused social network; find online language and religion courses for your children or yourself. You'll have to buy a membership to access the site's multimedia content, including Al-Jazeera broadcasts, Islamic music and TV, streaming live prayers from Medina, the monthly Islamica Magazine, and more.

Mama List is a well-known Islamic Web directory with categories that cover the full spectrum of Islamic sites. Search, browse, or click on the "Random Link" button to get thrown right into a new site.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a grassroots organization dedicated to encouraging understanding and good relations between the American Islamic community and others, as well as fighting bias and attacks on civil liberties. On its site you can learn about the council's work and Islam, read helpful information for Muslims and non-Muslims on Islamic practices and civil rights, and submit both positive and negative incidence reports. You can also join or donate to this nonprofit through the site.

Muxlim is an extensive community connecting Muslims, offering blogs, polls and forums. Its new feature, Muxlim Pal, creates a virtual world where users can develop their own avatars, meet other users, and participate in events.

Muslima is an international social networking/dating site for Muslims that conveniently offers translation services for member profiles between four different languages. Sign up for a limited basic membership, or pay for a gold or platinum membership to access the more advanced features. Such an upgrade will cost about $9-30 a month depending on the length of the contract.

MuslimFriends is a social networking site that connects you to other Muslims worldwide through chat, e-mail, and profile browsing. Search for someone in your area and age range or, if you sign up for a gold membership (between $16 and $30 per month, under various pricing plans), you can narrow your search with specific ethnic, religious, physical, and personality trait preferences.

Qiran.com follows the model of other free/pay membership social networking sites with both a basic membership and a premium one (starting at about $36 for three months), but offers a few additional features such as "send a song," which allows you to send music from the site's database to other members. For users without credit cards, the site allows for other payment options through the "Contact Us" page.

SalaamLove is a dating site that allows even basic members to record videos for their profiles directly on the site, making it easy to give that personal touch for even the most unsavvy computer users. Join for free and start searching profiles immediately.

ShiaMatch 's profiles and interface aren't the most beautiful or sophisticated for a social network, but are direct and quick ways to search and find other Shia Muslims looking for marriage. This site allows for family members to post profiles for members, and resembles a classifieds listing more than an active network. Membership is free for all except those living in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, for which a $10-per-month or $29-per-year fee is required.

Halalapalooza lets you easily browse listings of online stores for a wide variety of categories, including food, clothing, multimedia, children, and more. Use the pull-down menus on the left to choose a category and a subcategory then hit the "go" button beside the menu. Store listings include contact information, brief descriptions, and user ratings.

The Canadian Muslim ships hijabs and other Islamic garments worldwide. Browse through their pictures to find the stylish and modest clothes to fit your lifestyle.

Sound Vision 's greater Islamic site features a virtual storefront for all things Islamic, including large sections devoted to "Books" and "Games and Toys." If you're looking for a gift for a Muslim friend but don't know where to start, look under "Gifts and Things" or consider buying them a gift certificate to the site. Problem solved!

Simplyislam is an online superstore of Islamic merchandise with an impressive catalogue of items. Log in to customize it and create your wishlist, letting others see what you'd like for gifts-perfect for a birthday or wedding.

Muslim Tees ' hip designs let young Muslims display their faith and their sense of humor simultaneously. These beautiful shirts with a graphic design style can be shipped anywhere in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.