Originally published in Moscow-Pullman Daily News My family has been in the U.S. for almost three decades now. We have celebrated the July Fourth holiday every year; however, this year is special. My younger brother took his citizenship oath a couple of weeks ago – making him the last person in my family to become a U.S. citizen. This year more than others I am grateful to be a citizen of this...
Originally published in Canton Rep on April 30th, 2019 What happened Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka was nothing short of horrific. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I strongly condemn the attacks perpetrated against peaceful worshipers whose only crime was celebrating a momentous occasion of their faith. My deepest prayers are with the victims and families of all those affected. In Islam, killing any innocent...
Originally published in Blavity: News on June 18th, 2019 On June 19, we Americans celebrate Juneteenth — the day slavery was completely abolished in America. As a Muslim, I believe this is one of the greatest moments of American history. The Qur’an, our holy book, states, “Do you know what the greatest ascent is? It is the freeing of a slave.” (Qur’an 90:12-13) This shows how blessed the complete...
Originally published in The Arizona Republic on May 20th, 2019 To all my neighbors, We have just entered the last week of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is a fast in which Muslims take an oath of refraining from food and drink (including water) from sunup to sundown. But more than that it is a time of reflection and self-reformation. While many may know this is a time in which Muslims fast, it is...
Originally Published in The Middletown Press on March 27th, 2019 Commemorations are arising amid the aftermath of March 15’s barbaric terrorist attacks martyring 50 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, who gathered at mosques to observe the Islamic worship service that day. As Ahmadi Muslims, we mourned the sacred lives lost, many of whom were innocent children, to blind hatred and...
Originally published in Los Angeles Sentinel on February 27th, 2019 For me as an Ahmadi Muslim, Black History Month is a time to reflect on the beautiful origins of my faith, Islam. Among the first Muslim converts was an Abyssian slave named Bilal, who was befriended and then liberated by the holy prophet Muhammad. Bilal was a very pious and wise companion, and he was blessed with a deep...
For many years critics have portrayed the Qur’an in a negative light. They’ve dubbed its verses as violent, barbaric, and backwards. Some view it as a fabrication of the Prophet Muhammad, and as an antithesis to Western civilization. Perhaps they’d prefer it never existed. Interestingly, millions of Muslims throughout history — of all walks of life, backgrounds, and nations — have viewed it...
Originally Published in TribLive on February 28th, 2018 The Associated Press confirms mass graves of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. These are innocent people being murdered in the name of religion, who have no ability to defend themselves against the relentless onslaught. Where is the United Nations when you need it? The United States led a unilateral attack against Iraq in 2003 to defeat a...
Originally Published in the Washington Observer on December 9th, 2017 For decades the Israel-Palestine question has a been a divisive issue that sometimes seems impossible to solve. Many U.S. presidents have attempted to broker peace agreements between the two sides with limited progress. Progress on the issue has been at a standstill for many years and with President Trump’s announcement to...
Originally Published in the Sky Valley Chronicle on March 4th, 2018 America needs to change the way we respond to tragedy and increase our dialogue. We have become far too cynical and it has become a roadblock to any type of progress. There was a strong reaction last week when National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch commented at the conservative CPAC conference saying, “many in legacy...