Originally Published in Beliefnet Last month, I heard hope, felt peace, and saw love. These emotions were quite contrary to what I had the morning after this year’s election. I remember feeling really confused and insecure about what the future held for me, a young Muslim living in America. About a month ago, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community here in Baltimore decided to have an...
Originally Published in Patheos Is anyone surprised that hate crimes have increased 31% in 2016? This year has been exceptionally revealing in terms of hidden, hateful sentiments. But hate based crime isn’t just an American issue. Unlike apple pie, hate based crime is on the rise globally as well. My religious community, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is especially familiar with violence...
Originally published in The Columbus Dispatch America’s election has come and gone, the result is known, but we all have to come together as a nation. No matter what our political affiliation is, America now has a President-elect; the best we can now do is find a way to heal and move America forward by building a strong government, and be being ambassadors of peace. We have recently...
Originally published on Fredericksburg.com Anthem protests lead to more tension A national anthem for one’s country should give pride to that person, as it is a solemn symbol of the country’s history and culture. I was not born in America, but my religion Islam teaches me to be a loyal, respectful and productive member of society in whichever country I live in. The act of kneeling during the...
Originally published in The Huffington Post On July 8, 2016, prominent American Muslim cleric Imam Omar Suleiman gave a brilliant speech at the Dallas Police memorial: My faith requires me to speak out against hatred and injustice of all sorts… (O God!) We stand before you, ready to stand up … against any oppression, in any name, for any cause, from any position, and against any of...
The majority of Muslims believe that Jesus was raised bodily to heaven and someone made into the likeness of Jesus was crucified in his place. Saved from an accursed death on the cross, Jesus has been waiting over 2000 years to descend back to Earth to defeat the anti-Christ and establish an Islamic dominion. The teachings of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (saw), however, stand in...
Originally Published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer You may be shocked by Trump’s offensive comments about women, but let’s be honest: There are much deeper issues at play that transcend this one misogynist. Our American society has normalized a culture of sexual anarchy, and its adverse effects continue to be uncovered in a number of ways, regardless of whether the public knows it or...
Originally Published in The Michigan Daily Mike Pence swings through Michigan College Republicans officially endorse Trump-Pence ticket Students react to second presidential debate If you haven’t heard, Donald Trump is in a lot of hot water. In a video recording from 2005 released on Friday by The Washington Post, Mr. Trump is recorded making crude and sexist remarks regarding women. Last night...
Originally published in The Michigan Daily Sunday, October 2, 2016 – 4:59pm More like this Op-Ed: Leave the Locker Room, Trump Trump outlines economic plan amid protests Anu Roy-Chaudhury: The very un-American American In perhaps one of the most memorable lines from the comical first presidential debate, candidate Hillary Clinton captured all of the qualms I have with Donald Trump: “Well...
Originally published in The New Haven Register As we all know, the media is certainly capable of creating a societal misconception. Since 9/11, media across the globe has shown Islam as a radical religion and a global threat. Islam has been the focus of much scrutiny. After this attack, the term “Islamophobia” arose and exaggerated fear, hatred and hostility towards Islam and its followers...