Muslim Americans Celebrate Black History Month

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Originally published in Hartford Courant

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February is Black History Month and a time to reassess our commitment to racial equality. The subjugation of Africans to slavery in America is one of the biggest stains on our nation. Sadly, some slave owners went so far as to use an account in the Bible about Noah’s genealogy to legitimize the maltreatment of Africans.

Religion should bring people together in love, not tear them apart in hatred. As a Muslim, I revere the Bible and reject any such interpretation that arbitrarily damns an entire group. Fourteen hundred years ago, the Prophet Muhammad taught that all races are equal; in his Farewell Address, he emphasized that “a white person has no preference over a black person, nor a black person over a white person.”

 So this month, as we celebrate the achievements of our African American role models and attempt to wash off a mark from our past, let us, as religious leaders, come together to reaffirm our belief in one fraternity among all people.

About the author

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Sohail Husain

Dr. Sohail Husain serves as President of the Association of Ahmadi Muslim Scientists USA. He has also served in various leadership positions within the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Assoication and the local community. At his day job, he serves as an Associate Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research focuses on investigating the molecular basis of pancreatitis, which is a painful, inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Dr. Husain considers the practice of writing as both a crucial professional engagement, as well as a powerful means of personal expression.

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Avatar photo By Sohail Husain