Originally Published in The Roanoke Times on January 22nd, 2018
by Faran Jalil
In an era in which race relations continue to be a household topic, as an Ahmadi Muslim I encourage my fellow citizens to reflect on the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is worth acknowledging and celebrating our shared values regardless of our race, religion or background.
King famously stated, “I look to the day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This profound notion has also been a core tenet of the Islamic principles of equality for over 1,400 years.
The Prophet Muhammad said, “A white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.” In light of this advice, I encourage my fellow Americans to strive to overcome racism in 2018.
