Originally published in the Express Tribune I read a fellow blogger’s post on why she agrees with Sam Harris and Bill Maher. I am sure the writer has her heart in the right place and I completely agree with her principal argument – that the Muslim world needs serious introspection and reform. Except this is not the argument Maher and Harris put forth. They believe that the Islamic faith, not...
Originally published in the Allen American Instead of benefiting from the last days of the holy month of Ramadan, a mob ransacked, looted, and set fire to 8 Ahmadi homes in Gujranwala, Pakistan on July 27. A grandmother and her granddaughters, a 7 year-old and 8 month-old girl, died of suffocation, a 7 month pregnant female suffered a miscarriage, and 8 others are being treated for injuries and...
Originally published in Considine No Muslim has promoted the notion of a “jihad of the pen” more poignantly than Qasim Rashid, Ahmadi spokesmen, Muslim activist and author of the new book EXTREMIST: A Response to Geert Wilders & Terrorists Everywhere. A fervent advocate of human rights and a penetrating writer on Islam, Rashid has been actively promoting religious pluralism, freedom of...
Originally published in the Tulsa World It’s nearly July, so I feel it appropriate that I should bring your attention to Christmas, or at least what many of my friends label as ‘Christmas for Muslims’. Although some people have a problem with this comparison, and while there are many differences between the Muslim month of Ramadan and Christmas, the true spirit of both these holidays has many...
Originally published in Philadelphia News As a Muslim American, I feel pain from the Boston bombings. But our history shows that we grow stronger after such attacks (“Struck down, stepping up,” April 13). Islam condemns the killing of innocents. In honor of the victims, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held a blood drive at Boston City Hall. I wish the participants and spectators a safe...
Originally published in The Daily Herald The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and ranks as one of the largest and most popular events of its type worldwide. Tragedy struck this grand event last year when two bombs went off near the finish line, killing three and injuring around 275 others. Condolences and condemnations poured in from all around the world. American...
Originally published in Santa Barbara News-Press As a Muslim, I am saddened and condemn the terrorism in the Boston Marathon bombing. The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness and Khalifa of Islam Mirza Masroor Ahmad, condemned the bombings in a recent sermon. Moreover, His Holiness was saddened that Muslims were the first to be targeted as the culprits of this...
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 Star Tribune
In his first remarks after being elected, Pope Francis said: “Let there be brotherhood among us.” I hope that we as Muslims and Christians can unite and establish the brotherhood to which the pope alluded.
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...