AuthorZafir Ahmed

Baltimore Interfaith

Originally Published in Beliefnet Last month, I heard hope, felt peace, and saw love. These emotions were quite contrary to what  I had the morning after this year’s election. I remember feeling really confused and insecure about what the future held for me, a young Muslim living in America. About a month ago, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community here in Baltimore decided to have an...

Violence in the name of Muhammed is wrong

Yet another horrific incident of violence occurred in Garland, Texas last Sunday when two gunmen opened fire outside an event hosted by an anti-Islamic group (“Texas gunman was known to FBI,” May 5). As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I strongly condemn these acts of terror conducted by these two gunmen. If they believe they did this to defend the honor of the Prophet...

Terrorism and Islam

Originally posted in The Baltimore Sun Recently, a Sun poll asked readers whether “avoiding the phrase ‘Islamic extremism’ when referring to certain terrorist groups take[s] away their power as religious leaders, as the president contends?” (Feb. 19). There are about 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and a majority of them disagree strongly with the actions and ideologies...

ISIS is un-Islamic

Originally published in The Morning Call e peaceful religion of Islam is yet again being dishonored by the barbaric acts of the militant group ISIS (“Chaos in Baghdad,” Aug. 12). It has taken over key parts of Northern Iraq, demolished several holy sites and has targeted many minority groups. The group’s members have also threatened the Christians living in the cities they have...

Boko Haram offers a distorted picture of Islam

Originally published in The Baltimore Sun Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant group, has claimed responsibility for kidnapping at least 300 schoolgirls last month (“The world has finally noticed Boko Haram,” May 13). Boko Haram, which means “Western education is a sin,” has repeatedly affirmed that they commit such acts of violence in the name of Islam and that Islam...