by Naseer Syed Originally Published in The Star Press on March 3rd, 2018 Seventeen kids were murdered at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Three days later, less than 50 miles away at a gun show, hundreds thought buying more weapons was the appropriate response. Give it another week or two, and we’ll have brushed off the frenzy of activism that accompanies mass atrocities in our country. The...
Originally Published in The Caludron Many Americans feel that our country faces an existential threat from Muslims and the entire religion of Islam. A hard look at historical data will provide us with a different story. As a Muslim-American, I am inclined to believe that Islam is not a problem for Americans, but can actually provide a solution when it comes to one of the most difficult and...
Originally Published in Pittsburgh Post Gazette on February 26th, 2018 The school shooting in Parkland, Fla., should sound a panic alarm for lawmakers to prioritize a probe into the underlying basis for the surge in teen violence. The 800-pound gorilla may well be the ease of access to heavy-duty firearms. But we should also pull our heads out of the sand when it comes to the rampant problems...
Originally Published in Patheos on February 26th, 2018 The Florida shooting is yet another deadly attack on our nation. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I sympathize with the victims and their family members and offer them a sincere condolence. The worsening disconnect between the needs of the nation and the left and right factions of our country has prevented any real solution from being implemented...
Originally Published in Patheos on February 26th, 2018 There was an article recently by a friend on how a representative of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) supported a hate rally in Virginia recently; a reader commented that American Muslims need a better mainstream representative. The problem is that despite most American Muslims being good people, there’s no real unity between...
Originally Published in Beliefnet on February 26th, 2018 As a resident of central Ohio, I am saddened by the loss of our fellow Westerville Police officers who were killed in a line of duty recently. I am also saddened of the seventeen victims of the Parkland shooting. In both situations I commend our fellow officers putting themselves in harm’s way to protect civilians in need. These two...
Originally Published in MyRecordJournal on February 21st , 2018 Recently, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the oldest Muslim Organization in the United States, held its 8th annual “Day on the Hill,” during which over 100 delegates from across 75 chapters in the country visited their local representatives. This event was held to help eliminate any misconceptions, while also raising awareness...
Originally Published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on February 13th, 2018 As an American Ahmadi Muslim, I would like to encourage our fellow citizens to reflect on the importance of Black History Month. It is worth acknowledging and celebrating shared values regardless of our race, religion, or background. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once famously stated, “I look to the day when people will...
Originally Published in the Columbus Dispatch on February 14th, 2018 Islam puts a lot of emphasis on the love between a husband and a wife. They are supposed to be best friends who not only help support each other become better people but also cover the faults of one another. In fact, the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “The best among you are those who are best to their wives.” As a...
Originally Published in the Huffington Post on December 6th, 2017 Victims hid under dead bodies, attackers ambushed ambulances, and over 305 people were killed. Nearly forty gunmen unleashed a vicious attack upon the al-Rawda mosque, utilizing multiple bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, and strategic ambush locations against first responders. The victims were Muslims, coming to the mosque for...