Originally Publish on The Santa Clarita Valley Signal This eleventh of November, our nation will commemorate Veterans Day in tribute to the members of the armed forces who made great sacrifices defending our liberties. This day has great context, spanning wars over a hundred years fought to defend the very ideology of freedom and conscience against mortal threats. As a Muslim, I believe all...
Originally Published on The Miami Herald Prior to 1954, many schools were segregated because of fear and a lack of understanding. Nearly 60 years after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision we find ourselves in a similar situation with the parents in the Volusia County School District who are pushing to remove chapters on Islam from a history book because, as they see it, Islam...
Star Local News Originally Published in Star Local News Guns don’t kill people, people kill people – but is this really an excuse for the heinous acts that strip away innocent lives year after year? The vast majority of us are law-abiding, responsible gun owners. However, there will always be a select few that jeopardize our rights. It is an unfair truth in life. Churches are being desecrated...
Originally Published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer It is unfortunate that when I first heard about the Boston Marathon bombings, instead of thinking “Oh, God, please have mercy on the victims and their families,” I thought, “Oh, God, please do not let the perpetrators be Muslim.” When I heard the perpetrators were from Chechnya, I made another mistake; I sighed with relief...
Originally Published in the New York Daily News The Boston bombings gave me a double whammy. As an American, I am deeply saddened by the four senseless deaths and the scores of wounded. My heart goes out to the families of these victims. As a Muslim, I am disturbed by the headlines stating that Islam might had a “secondary” role in these attacks. Violence and evil have no religion. Islam has...
Originally Published in the Press-Telegram As members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, we congratulate Pope Francis on his election as the new pontiff. The prophet Muhammad emphatically taught inter-faith respect and understanding, especially towards those who dedicate their lives in the service of God. Muslims and Christians have a rich history of peace and coexistence, especially evident in...
Originally published in the Northwest Herald The democratic process is an amazing process, one that is able to promote its first African American president. As I congratulate President Barack Obama on his re-election and wish him success, I also encourage him to keep justice in mind while in office, both here and abroad. This is not a liberty all nations afford their citizens. In Pakistan, for...
Originally Published on Thebaltimoresun.com There are a growing number of conflicts worldwide, fighting in Syria, unrest in Egypt, and increasing tension in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among them. As more and more countries become involved, a real possibility exists that things can get worse for everyone. This holiday season, I believe it is important for countries to stop and think...
Originally Published on Thenorthwestern.com I read with interest Mr. Lyle Conrad’s letter on December 3, in which he sought interfaith dialogue with local area Muslims. At the same time he attributed something to Islam which I, as a Muslim, wanted to clarify. Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet like Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Muhammad and thus he is a highly revered, sacred and...
Originally Published in Hartfordfavs.com The recent film “Innocence of Muslims” which sparked riots and protests around the Muslim world was not the worst or last deranged attempt to ignite unjust hatred. Indeed, since Prophet Muhammad’s birth to a beautiful couple named Aminah and Abdullah, the meek, poor, unlettered orphan of Arabia’s desert has tearfully been the target of...