Writing
I have a long-standing interest in the theological and practical intersections between different religious traditions generally, and between Islam and Christianity in particular. In 2008-2009, I took a hiatus from translating to delve full-time into issues relating to these themes, in part in a quest for clarity about my own convictions, and in part out of intellectual curiosity. The outcome was a series of articles that I was able to publish in a number of refereed journals.
Articles Published In Refereed Journals
- “A Muslim Reflects on Christ Crucified: Stumbling-Block, or Blessing?” Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 24.3, July 2013.
- "Imitatio Christi, Imitatio Muhammadi, Imitatio Dei,” The Journal of Ecumenical Studies 47:2, Spring 2012, pp. 227-248.
- “Reflections on Conversion,” Studies in Spirituality, Vol. 21, 2011, pp. 273-296.
- “Trinity vs. Monotheism: A False Dichotomy?” The Muslim World, Vol. 101, Number 1, January 2011, pp. 73-93.
- “God as Father-Mother, and More,” The Muslim World, Vol. 99, Number 1, January 2009, pp. 102-123.
Other Publications
- “Reflections on the Virgin Birth of Jesus,” Syndicate Theology, Issue 3.5, September/October 2016, pp. 148-151.
- “The Language of the Sublime: A Partial Reading of the Works of al-Niffari,” English translation of an article by Dr. Amin Odeh, Sufi magazine, No. 38, Summer 1998, pp. 42-45.
- "Reopening the Christian-Muslim Dialogue of the 13-14th Centuries: Critical Reflections on Ibn Taymiyyah's Response to Christianity in Al-Jawab Al-Sahih li man Baddala Din Al-Masih," The Muslim World, Vol. LXXXVI, No. 3-4, July-October 1996.
- ___________________. Reprinted in Averil Cameron and Robert Hoyland, eds., Doctrine and Debate in the Eastern Christian World, 300-1500, London: Ashgate, 2011.
- "A Parable of Blessing: The Significance and Message of the Qur'anic Account of `The Companions of the Cave'" in The Muslim World, Vol. LXXXIII, No. 3-4, July-October 1993.
Unpublished Manuscript
Two Palm Trees in My Garden: A Psycho-Spiritual Journal
A combination of personal story, self-examination, and dialogue with the thoughts, writings and experiences of others, Two Palm Trees in My Garden is an account of how, in part in response to a spiritual crisis over religious identity, and in part through lessons learned over the years that followed, I discovered how to re-own the faith I’d imbibed as a child. Beyond this, it tells the story of how, out of this re-owning of my religious heritage, I moved on to embrace an ecumenical spirituality in which I continue to progress toward recognition of, and reconciliation with, my most genuine self.