The Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen 1805-1875, famous for his stories and fairy tales, also captured his journeys abroad in a number of travelogues. The lengthy excerpt reproduced here recounts a visit to Istanbul Constantinople on the occasion of the birthday celebration, or Mawlid, for the Prophet Muhammad. He also recounts the public procession of the Sultan and his entourage from the Serail meaning Topkap? Saray or Palace. The account gives yet another interesting outsider perspective on Ottoman life and society.

Read more here : Andersen in Istanbul: The Mawlid of the Prophet Muhammad | Islamicana.

It is with great honor to announce that Shaykh Abdul-Kareem Yahya is visiting the San Francisco Bay Area during the months of May and June, 2008. He will be teaching and lecturing at various venues during his visit.

Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will be teaching about the Seerah of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) at the Hayward Halaqah gatherings.

• Session 1: From birth to prophethood
• Session 2: Makkah
• Session 3: Madinah

Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will also be teaching from “The Book of Assistance” at the Zawiya in Fremont on Sunday evenings after Maghrib.

His first public lecture will be conducted on Sunday, May 25 at Masjid Abu Bakr in Hayward from 5pm  – 7pm. Here is a link to the Facebook events page.We will continue to provide updates as we finalize the details.

IslamCrunch is honored to be working with the Hayward Halaqah team and the Zawiya Outreach Program.