Originally published in the Huffington Post Earlier this month Islamic scholar Dr. Tariq Ramadan publicized his impassioned decision to boycott the ISNA conference. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I disagreed with his decision. In fact, even if I agreed with every complaint he made, I still would not boycott ISNA for one simple reason — I can’t rationalize Prophet Muhammad’s pluralistic...
Muslim campaign begins
Originally published in the Daily Reflector “Whosoever killed a person… it shall be as if he killed all mankind and whosoever gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind” (5:33). In the spirit of this verse, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is beginning its 4th annual Muslims for Life Campaign. All across the nation and in several universities in North...
Nothing Islamic about ISIS
Originally published in the Daily Herald ISIS self-proclaims to be “The Islamic state of Iraq and al-Sham.” However, the reality is there is nothing Islamic about ISIS. Innocent civilians are dying and minorities such as Christians, Yazidi, Kurdish and Shiites have been targeted by ISIS. Muslims follow Islam by the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The true...
ISIS actions sicken most Muslims
Originally published in the Fayetteville Observer The actions of ISIS are fundamentally, unequivocally unIslamic. The violence that these barbarians are perpetrating against minority sects of Shiite Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and Kurds sickens me. I want to make it 100percent clear that these actions are nothing but a perversion of the true teachings of Islam. As the Christian city of Qaraqosh...
ISIS is un-Islamic
Originally published in The Morning Call e peaceful religion of Islam is yet again being dishonored by the barbaric acts of the militant group ISIS (“Chaos in Baghdad,” Aug. 12). It has taken over key parts of Northern Iraq, demolished several holy sites and has targeted many minority groups. The group’s members have also threatened the Christians living in the cities they have...
Boko Haram offers a distorted picture of Islam
Originally published in The Baltimore Sun Boko Haram, a Nigerian militant group, has claimed responsibility for kidnapping at least 300 schoolgirls last month (“The world has finally noticed Boko Haram,” May 13). Boko Haram, which means “Western education is a sin,” has repeatedly affirmed that they commit such acts of violence in the name of Islam and that Islam...
Ramp up the charity, reflection for Ramadan
Originally published in The Eagle Ramadan has now reached its final few days, which are considered the most blessed days in the most blessed month for Muslims. While all of Ramadan is a time for reflection, it is especially important to remember the less fortunate in these last few days. The prophet Muhammad stated, “He is not a believer, who eats his fill while his neighbors goes hungry...
Muslim Leadership Must Act for World Peace
Originally published in The Huffignton Post The ISIS menace, the atrocities of Syria, the chronic violence between Palestine and Israel, and the current siege on Gaza are a sign of spiritual entropy and political immorality. The political immorality is clear from ongoing civilian casualties. ISIS is killing innocent Christians, 700 Syrians have died in just the past few days, and some 75 percent...
When violence happened, Ahmadis responded with peace
Originally published in the Allen American Instead of benefiting from the last days of the holy month of Ramadan, a mob ransacked, looted, and set fire to 8 Ahmadi homes in Gujranwala, Pakistan on July 27. A grandmother and her granddaughters, a 7 year-old and 8 month-old girl, died of suffocation, a 7 month pregnant female suffered a miscarriage, and 8 others are being treated for injuries and...
My letter to President Obama
Originally published in Twin Cities Daily Planet As part of this great nation’s foreign policy, when injustice takes place in any part of the world, America usually takes a stand. We saw this in the case of Russian atrocities in Ukraine, in America’s unity with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). However when it comes to Palestine, America turns a blind eye with the EU and the UN...