Muslim News Digest, February 2026

MUSLIM NEWS DIGEST, FEBRUARY 2026RAMADAN/EID AL-FITR:

Community, charity, empathy: The significance of Ramadan. MCCC Agora. https://mcccagora.com/2026/02/23/community-charity-empathy-the-significance-of-ramadan/

Ramadan ushers in a month of fasting, worship and charity for Muslims, in photos. AP. https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/ramadan-a18b88ec6ce34594b9586ffc334d34cf#

Ramadan khutba of the Prophet (saw). Malik Mujahid, Muslim Network TV, video 22:30. https://www.vulture.com/article/what-mira-nair-taught-zohran-mamdani.html

Ramadan ….. the gates of heaven wide open. Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/ramadhan-the-gates-of-heaven-open-wide?

Community event helps feed those in need during Ramadan. abc6 Philadelphia. https://6abc.com/post/community-event-helps-feed-need-during-ramadan/18580310/

This Ramadan I’m choosing emptiness over exhaustion. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/16/this-ramadan-im-choosing-emptiness-over-exhaustion/

Ramadan toolkits for campus administrators and students. MSA National. https://www.msanational.org/ramadan

Ramadan 2026: Know the law and support your Muslim employees. Ogletree Deakins. https://ogletree.com/insights-resources/blog-posts/ramadan-2026-know-the-law-and-support-your-muslim-employees/

Designing for Ramadan 2026. Gould Studio. https://www.gouldstudio.com/insights/designing-for-ramadan-2026

Ramadan Night Market aims to fill Bridgeport’s Arcade Mall with food and shopping over 4 evenings. Connecticut Post. https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-ct-ramadan-night-market-arcade-mall-21311825.php

San Diego, California Unified School District offers free take-home meals for students observing Ramadan. Fox5. https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego-schools-ramadan-meals/

Premier League to take breaks during Ramadan for fasting players. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/epl/2026/02/21/premier-league-ramadan-breaks-players-fasting/88778318007/

CAIR releases ‘Eid Everywhere’ campaign toolkit for Eid recognition in schools. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-advisory-cair-releases-eid-everywhere-campaign-toolkit-for-eid-recognition-in-schools

After ICE raids, Ramadan in Minnesota is somber, but some hope it offers healing. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/20/ramadan-in-minnesota-is-somber-but-muslims-hope-it-will-offer-healing-super-rough-hed/

Presidential message on Ramadan. White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/02/presidential-message-on-ramadan-ecc0/

Washington governor wishes Muslim community ‘Ramadan Mubarak.’ AA.  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/washington-governor-wishes-muslim-community-ramadan-mubarak/3834598

USA NEWS:

70 volunteers unite at Nueces Mosque to prepare 20,000 meals for the food bank. Fox7 Austin. https://www.fox7austin.com/news/70-volunteers-unite-nueces-mosque-prepare-20000-meals-food-bank

Muslim conference brings community together, encourages hope and resilience. Coral Springs Florida News. https://www.coralspringsflnews.com/news/local/article314533487.html

A Muslim owned thrift shop blends modest fashion, faith and sustainability. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/02/a-muslim-owned-thrift-shop-blends-modest-fashion-faith-and-sustainability

Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair realized his growing influence. He wants to use it to inspire change. msn Sports. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/houston-texans-azeez-al-shaair-realized-his-growing-influence-he-wants-to-use-it-to-inspire-change/ar-AA1VEtp7

Malcolm-X: A voice of Islam and resistance honored worldwide. Ilkha. https://ilkha.com/english/world/malcolm-x-a-voice-of-islam-and-resistance-honored-worldwide-513394

New York is constantly being renewed: How Muslim creatives are changing the city’s cultural landscape. Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/03/new-york-city-muslims-city-landscape

Southern California history: Islamic Society of Orange County turns 50. LAist. https://laist.com/news/la-history/islamic-society-of-orange-county-turns-50

Community Safety Guide: When ICE shows up. MPAC. https://www.mpac.org/community-safety-guide-home

Trump’s Board of Peace: International organization or sole proprietorship. Prof. L. Ali Khan, Jurist News. https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2026/01/trumps-board-of-peace-international-organization-or-sole-proprietorship/

Christian prison ministry settles discrimination lawsuit with Muslim chaplain applicant. Premier Christian News. https://premierchristian.news/us/news/article/christian-prison-ministry-settles-discrimination-lawsuit-with-muslim-chaplain-applicant

Colorado to pay $245,000 to Muslim man forced to shave beard in prison. Denver Post. https://www.denverpost.com/2026/02/04/colorado-prison-lawsuit-beard-muslim-shave/

Laura Loomer must resume payments to Muslim advocacy group, the judge says. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/03/laura-loomer-to-resume-payments-to-muslim-advocacy-group-judge-says/

Immigrants delivered a $14.5 trillion surplus to the U.S. economy over the last 30 years: Report. Common Dreams. https://www.commondreams.org/news/do-immigrants-drain-the-us-economy

Off the Hill leader- Microsoft’s Sohail Khan. Washington Reporter. https://washingtonreporter.news/off-the-hill-leader-microsofts-suhail-khan

Film Review – Time Goppers: The Silk Road. Muslim Matters. https://muslimmatters.org/2026/02/22/film-review-time-hoppers-the-silk-road/

Christians have a duty to confront Islamophobia, ministers argue in a new book. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/05/christians-have-a-duty-to-confront-islamophobia-ministers-argue-in-new-book/

Judge blocks deportation of Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi. NBC News.  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-blocks-deportation-palestinian-activist-mohsen-mahdawi-rcna259579

How faith leaders can help prevent war with Iran. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/12/how-faith-leaders-can-help-prevent-war-with-iran/

INTERNATIONAL:

Iranian researcher Dr. Maryam Nouri Balanji wins gold at Silicon Valley invention festival for cancer medicine. Press TV. https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/12/16/760735/Iran-gold-Silicon-Valley-invention-medicine-cancer

UAE pledges $500 million for Sudan aid as Washington gathers donors. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/02/uae-pledges-500-million-sudan-aid-washington-gathers-donors

This doctor couldn’t save one Palestinian toddler. Now he hopes to save all Gazan children. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/02/02/he-couldnt-save-the-boy-so-he-started-a-vast-humanitarian-enterprise-in-gaza/

Iraq is ‘unrecognizable and remarkable’ after decades of conflict – U.N. coordinator shows why. Good News Network. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/iraq-unrecognizable-and-remarkable-after-decades-of-conflict-un-coordinator/

Statement on interfaith responsibility in a time of rising authoritarianism. Parliament of The World’s Religions. https://parliamentofreligions.org/blog/statement-on-interfaith-responsibility-in-a-time-of-rising-authoritarianism/

‘God is the greatest’, says England soccer team’s first Muslim player Djed Spence. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/god-greatest-says-england-teams-first-muslim-player-djed-spence

British rapper Central Cee converts to Islam. msn. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/pakistan/british-rapper-central-cee-converts-to-islampublished-on-february-9-2026-627-am/ar-AA1VWybL

Uzbekistan shines the spotlight on scholarship, culture with the new Islamic Civilization Center. Caspian Post.  https://caspianpost.com/analytics/uzbekistan-shines-spotlight-on-scholarship-culture-with-new-islamic-civilization-center

Malala becomes the second Pakistani to have her portrait displayed at the University of Oxford. Asia News Network. https://asianews.network/malala-becomes-second-pakistani-to-have-her-portrait-displayed-at-the-university-of-oxford/

Islamic banking sector set for steady expansion. Malaysian Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2026/02/05/islamic-banking-sector-set-for-steady-expansion

How can halal cosmetics leverage social commerce? Salaam Gateway. https://salaamgateway.com/story/how-can-halal-cosmetics-leverage-social-commerce

INSPIRATION::

Reflections on hijab by American Muslimah. Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/reflections-on-hijab-by-american-muslimah

Grand Imam of Al Azhar: Islam reaffirms women’s equality with men, frees them from pre-Islamic cultural oppression. Egypt Today. https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/144801/Grand-Imam-of-Al-Azhar-Islam-affirms-women%E2%80%99s-equality-with

The Prophet Muhammad, Holy Quran are two foundational pillars of Islamic identity. Taghrib News. https://www.taghribnews.com/en/news/708201/the-prophet-muhammad-holy-qur-an-are-two-foundational-pillars-of-islamic-identity

Iraqi calligrapher’s hand written Quran ends 6 years of artistry and craft. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/turkey-islamic-calligraphy-handwritten-quran-206b9a6d9a22bc09edd54634db1ae244

Gentle heart, gentle art: Connecting Jiu-Jitsu to Prophetic teachings. Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/gentle-heart-gentle-art-connecting-jiu-jitsu-to-prophetic-teachings
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ISLAMIC DATES: https://fiqhcouncil.org/calendar/
Mar 15. Lailat al-Qadr
Mar 20. 1st of Shawwal, Eid al-Fitr
Apr 18. 1st of Dhul Qi’dah
May 18. Dhul Hijjah
May 26. Hajj, Day of Arafat
May 27. Eid al-Adha
Jun 16. 1st of Muharram 1448 AH
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS, NATIONAL:
Feb 28. Savior Day. Mosque Cares. Video Livestream. Register https://www.saviorsday.net/
Feb 28. Abdelkader Student Prize. https://abdelkaderproject.org/events/2026-abdelkader-student-prize-deadline
Mar 1. A Continuous Charity (ACC) Student Loan. Apply now. https://acceducate.org/apply/
Mar 8. Sunday. Kansas Ramadan Community Webinar. 11 am CT. by CAIR. Register https://action.cair.com/a/ramadan-online-gathering-ks
Mar 24. Washington DC. American Eid: Celebrating Our Stories. MPAC https://www.mpac.org/events/an-american-eid-celebrating-our-stories
Mar 31. Imam’s Generational Scholarship Fund. Last day to apply https://www.contemporaryislam.org/imam-scholarship.html
Apr 3-5. MYNA Spring Camps. https://www.myna.org/camps
Apr 3-5. Chicago. ISNA Education Forum. https://hq.isna.net/upcoming-events
Apr 4. Chicago. ISNA Matrimonial Banquet. https://isna.tfaforms.net/32
Apr 13. Sacramento. Muslim Day at the Capitol of California. https://ca.cair.com/advocacy/muslim-day-at-the-capitol/
Apr 20, 21. Washington DC. USCMO National Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. https://fill.formnx.com/f/16tm73
May 23-25. Baltimore. ICNA-MAS Convention 2026. https://icnaconvention.org/
Jun 28-Jul 19. MYNA Hira Intensive. https://www.myna.org/hira-main
Sep 4-7. Detroit. 63rd Annual ISNA Convention. https://hq.isna.net/annual-convention
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