Originally published in the Austin-American Statesman There is a distinct lack of tolerance in the world right now, as evidenced by the gruesome attacks committed in the name of Islam in France and their aftermath. It is unfortunate that the deprived and misguided youth are deluded into thinking they are doing a service for the religion when in reality they are doing a great disservice...
Originally published in The Trentonian As we celebrate Juneteenth amidst our current national crises, let’s revisit history. Despite slaves having been emancipated in 1865, many opposed their integration into society. Even in the North, African-Americans were systematically discriminated against through practices like redlining. On the other hand, we see a different historical example in how the...
Originally published in the Toledo Blade In Pakistan, my parents suffered the effects of legalized religious persecution. As Ahmadi Muslims, they were forbidden to preach, practice, or even profess their faith without potentially facing criminal charges by the state or vigilante punishment by extremists. My uncle was poisoned nearly to death and grandfather jailed several times simply because of...
Originally published in The Santa Barbara Independent Civil War. Two words to describe today. No one would have conceived that America — the greatest country in the world — could even be categorized to be in a state that could be described as a “civil war.” But one man did: His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In 2016, CBC news reporter Peter...
Originally published in Financial Times Are we stuck in the civil war era of the 19th century? (“George Floyd and the story of the Two Americas”, FT View, June 3). The backlash of unrest on America’s city streets exposes two unresolved problems. The first is the immediate issue, which is an egregious absence, or at the very least, a massive delay of legal justice when it comes to felonies...
Originally published in The Tribune-Review “Momma, Momma!” “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” No innocent human being should have to die with these words on their lips. A police officer, tasked to protect George Floyd’s life, mercilessly crushed George’s neck for 9 long minutes. He has been charged with murder. Is George’s death an isolated incident, one in which an officer of the law went...
Originally published in The Minnesota Daily “Allah has made you brethren one to another, so be not divided. An Arab has no preference over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor is a white one to be preferred to a dark one, nor a dark one to a white one.” These are some of the last words the Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) of Islam bestowed upon his followers during his...
Originally published in The Gazette Intermittent fasting is hailed by many as the new ‘cool’ fad diet of this decade. Experts ranging from medical physicians to health nutritionists have described at length the health, mental, social, and financial benefits that come with this type of lifestyle. But there is another source that made intermittent fasting cool before anyone else. Islam and its...
Originally published in Arizona Daily Star Professor Nicholas Damask of Scottsdale Community College received criticism this semester for asking certain questions on a quiz for his World Politics course. These included Who do terrorists strive to emulate? where his ‘correct answer’ was Mohammad, and Terrorism is [blank] in Islam” where the ‘correct answer’ was justified within the context...
Originally published in The Tribune-Review “Mom, don’t leave. It’s too dangerous.” “If I don’t,” my mother replies, “my children will starve.” “I’m your child,” I respond. “So are they,” she says. I have had this debate with my mother for more than a month. Deemed an essential worker, my 61-year old mother leaves her house every day and takes the bus to work — so she can prepare meals for New...