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Conflict in Mecca: The Prophet Muhammad and Soft Power
Featured

Conflict in Mecca: The Prophet Muhammad and Soft Power

Juan Cole

I believe that the earliest source we have for the life of the Prophet is the Quran itself. And I believe the Quran is early.

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“Into this Universe:”  Heidegger and FitzGerald’s The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám 1:29

“Into this Universe:” Heidegger and FitzGerald’s The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám 1:29

12/14/2025 By Juan Cole

“Identity is never fixed:” Interview with Iranian-American Artist Soraya Sharghi

“Identity is never fixed:” Interview with Iranian-American Artist Soraya Sharghi

12/14/2025 By Global Voices

More Stories

Uncategorized
Syria Spirals down into Sectarian War (Cole at Truthdig)

Syria Spirals down into Sectarian War (Cole at Truthdig)

My column is out at Truthdig, “Sectarian Violence Undermines Syrian Regime” Excerpt: “The Syrian government’s resort to Alawite death squads in recent weeks, however, has […]

Juan Cole

Egypt
Egypt:  Fundamentalist President + Junta = ?

Egypt: Fundamentalist President + Junta = ?

Since December, Egypt has had as its president a military council, and as its legislature the Muslim Brotherhood. It is possible this morning that Egypt […]

Juan Cole

Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam (138) “Don’t throw your precious lives to the wind…”

Omar Khayyam (138) “Don’t throw your precious lives to the wind…”

Don’t fall for this world’s  enticements, you amateurs! You know all about its tricks. Don’t throw your precious lives  to the wind. Get yourself a […]

Juan Cole

Uncategorized
What America would be like if it was like Afghanistan (Engelhardt)

What America would be like if it was like Afghanistan (Engelhardt)

Tom Engelhardt writes at Tomdispatch [satire alert] It Couldn’t Happen Here, It Does Happen There The Value of American — and Afghan — Lives By […]

Juan Cole

Uncategorized
Father's Day (Louis C.K.)

Father’s Day (Louis C.K.)

Comedian Louis C.K. on Father’s Day:

Juan Cole

Uncategorized
Did the Egyptian Generals make their Coup because of a Conspiracy Theory?

Did the Egyptian Generals make their Coup because of a Conspiracy Theory?

The initial reaction of the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party to the high court decision dissolving parliament had been […]

Juan Cole

Uncategorized
Is the secret war in Yemen and Somalia secret no longer? (Woods)

Is the secret war in Yemen and Somalia secret no longer? (Woods)

Chris Woods writes at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism In what is being viewed by some as a significant move towards greater transparency, President Obama […]

Juan Cole

Uncategorized
On the Right Way to Vote (W. C. Fields Poster)

On the Right Way to Vote (W. C. Fields Poster)

Juan Cole

Egypt
Egypt:  An Election within a Coup within a Coup

Egypt: An Election within a Coup within a Coup

Arab satellite television is showing lines of Egyptian voters at polling stations on Saturday, as some proportion of the 50 million eligible voters makes a […]

Juan Cole

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