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Islam is under attack by the Islamic State

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Originally published in the Duluth News Tribune While American lawmakers are assessing whether the initial stages of bombings in Syria helped contain the Islamic State, a fresh wave of homeland terrorist attacks has aggravated the fear of a growing influence of Islamic State over America. On Oct. 24, a New York man attacked a group of police officers by wielding a hatchet, critically injuring one...

The teachings of Muhammad

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Originally published in the Las Vegas Sun he Islamic State has been making headlines since last year. The group is known for coercion, kidnapping and ruthless public beheadings of innocent civilians, all in the name of creating a caliphate across Iraq and Syria. Furthermore, the Islamic State generates revenue to achieve its vicious goals through extortion and robbery. As a practicing Muslim, I...

The Key to Defeating ISIS

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Originally published in the Huffington Post While President Obama reveals his plan to obliterate ISIS with force, and Bill Maher continues his ignorant rant to tie ISIS to Islam, New York Times journalist David Brooks provides the correct counter to ISIS in his September 4 column, “But, ultimately, [ISIS is] a spiritual movement that will have to be surmounted by a superior version of Islam...

Honoring the lives we lost

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Originally published in the The Santa Clarita Valley Signal On this anniversary of 9/11, it seems there is more to be concerned about now than to alleviate us from the wounds inflicted 13 years ago. Sept. 11 has come to symbolize terrorism, cruelty and injustice. Over the course of the previous year we have seen an astounding rise in all of these vices around the world. The Israeli-Palestinian...

Undoing religious intolerance – undoing the second amendment

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Originally published in the Express Tribune Religious clerics in Pakistan celebrate September 7th as a day of victory for Islam and Pakistan. Officially dubbed the “Khatme Nubuwwat Day” or “Finality of Prophethood Day,” many mosques come alive with celebrations this day, sweets are distributed and intense speeches are made in large religious gatherings.  Forty years ago this day, Pakistan passed...

Why I Did Not Boycott the ISNA Convention

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Originally published in the Huffington Post Earlier this month Islamic scholar Dr. Tariq Ramadan publicized his impassioned decision to boycott the ISNA conference. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I disagreed with his decision. In fact, even if I agreed with every complaint he made, I still would not boycott ISNA for one simple reason — I can’t rationalize Prophet Muhammad’s pluralistic...

Ramp up the charity, reflection for Ramadan

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Originally published in The Eagle Ramadan has now reached its final few days, which are considered the most blessed days in the most blessed month for Muslims. While all of Ramadan is a time for reflection, it is especially important to remember the less fortunate in these last few days. The prophet Muhammad stated, “He is not a believer, who eats his fill while his neighbors goes hungry...

Where are the real Muslims?

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Originally published in Montgomery Media, Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Times Ramadan is a time for prayer and self-reflection for Muslims around the world. However, as I end my second week of Ramadan, looking at the news stories I can’t help but ask, “Where are the real Muslims?” There is a Muslim who is claiming to be the Caliph of Islam, but his followers will kill anyone who does...

Meet The Global Muslim Peace Movement

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Originally published in the Huffington Post Some 15 hours into my fast in the blistering Virginia heat my head hurt–but it wasn’t a symptom of Ramadan. Rather, I found myself digesting The Times columnist David Aaronovitch’s latest piece, “Moderate Muslims — it’s time to be outraged.” Aaronovitch argues that, “there is no Islamic peace movement...