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AuthorAdeel Ahmad

Adeel Ahmad is in his final year studying microbiology at the University of Minnesota. Thereafter, he plans on pursuing his education and a career in medicine. Currently, he serves as co-secretary of the Muslim Writers Guild of America. He is also President of the Minnesota Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association.

To Muslims, this, too, feels like terrorism

Originally published in The Star Tribune On Wednesday night, the Al-Madinah Cultural Center at the University of Minnesota held a candlelight vigil for the three Muslims who were shot to death in Chapel Hill, N.C. While sources suggest the motives were due to parking disputes, one can’t simply ignore the fact that anti-Islamic sentiment portrayed in the media has been on the rise and may have...

Minnesota Muslims speak out on martyrdom, murder of Dr. Mehdi Ali

Originally published in Twin Cities Daily Planet On Monday, May 25, Ohio based cardiologist, Dr. Mehdi Ali was assassinated in Pakistan. According to a report in the New York Times: “An American doctor volunteering at a hospital in eastern Pakistan was shot to death on Monday in front of his wife and 3-year-old son in the latest attack on a follower of the minority Ahmadi faith at a time of...

Mother’s Day, coming up

Originally published in The Star Tribune Mother’s Day is approaching fast, and I haven’t done anything about it yet. While there are plenty of last-minute Mother’s Day sales, it’s hard to find that right gift that can truly thank my mother for all that she has done for me. Growing up, my mother would tell me that the prophet Mohammed once said that a child would never be able to fully repay his...

Ramadan fast allows focus on the spiritual

Originally published in Minnesota Sun Post   “Wait, so why do you have to starve yourself?” is the question I would always get during Ramadan at my school. I would have to explain that keeping away from food is only a part of the fast. During Ramadan, Muslims turn away from food, as a means to detach from the physical world. Doing so allows us to focus on our spiritual well-being as well...

Fasting isn’t simply starving

Originally published in Minnesota Daily   “Wait, so why do you have to starve yourself?” is the question I would always get during Ramadan at my school. I would have to explain that keeping away from food is only a part of the fast. During Ramadan, which began July 8 this year, Muslims turn away from food as a means to detach themselves from the physical world. Doing so allows us to focus on...