Originally published in Seattle Times Twelve years ago, al-Qaida took nearly 3,000 innocent lives. I was too young to understand why, but I knew that the Islam I followed didn’t teach violence. I knew that the Quran condemns the taking of innocent lives; to kill a person is like killing all mankind. I knew Prophet Muhammad stated that God has made the blood, property and honor of every human...
Originally published in The Daily Herald Just last week, some of my Christian and Muslim friends got together to feed the homeless at a neighboring church. This incredible feeling reminded me of how lucky we are to live in a country that believes in religious freedom and security. I wish this was the case in Pakistan, where I was born and raised, but it isn’t. In 1974, Pakistan passed its...
Originally published in USA Today Twelve years ago, al-Qaeda took nearly 3,000 innocent lives. I was too young to understand why, but I knew that the Islam I followed didn’t teach violence. I knew that the Quran condemns the taking of innocent lives. I couldn’t understand why, when Islam clearly condemns bloodshed, some people kill and call it an act for the sake of Islam. I have been...
Originally published in The Northwestern Next week will mark the 12 year anniversary of 9/11, a day of bloodshed and incomprehensible tragedy. On Sept. 7, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Oshkosh will hold a blood drive at its mosque on 300 N. Eagle St. from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., to honor the victims and to emphasize sanctity of life, a teaching inherent in all religious traditions. In fact, all...
Originally published in The Baltimore Sun Mr. President, you and I having a similar challenge: selling a military strike against Syria as a “moral imperative.” But we have different audiences. Your constituents come from all parts of the country; mine from different parts of the world. Yours are driven by myriad interests; mine are simply seeking justice. Yours are young and old; mine...
Originally published in The Huffington Post As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons at the outskirts of Damascus and President Obama mulls a U.S. military response, some theologians hope for an alarming endgame to the 30-month-long Syrian conflict. For these Christians and Muslim, the civil war in Syria is a prelude to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Before you label...
Originally published in Religion News Service (RNS) As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons at the outskirts of Damascus and President Obama mulls a U.S. military response, some theologians hope for an alarming endgame to the 30-month-long Syrian conflict. For these Christians and Muslim, the civil war in Syria heralds nothing less than the Second Coming of Jesus Christ...
Originally Published in The Santa Clarita Valley Signal This month brought a close to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is marked by 30 days of fasting for Muslims from dawn to dusk and culminates with a day of celebration and festivity known as Eid-ul-Fitr. However, the Quran states that fasting is not a new phenomenon in the religion of Islam, but has had prescription in earlier...
Originally published in The Santa Clarity Valley Signal This month brought a close to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is marked by 30 days of fasting for Muslims from dawn to dusk and culminates with a day of celebration and festivity known as Eid-ul-Fitr. However, the Quran states that fasting is not a new phenomenon in the religion of Islam, but has had prescription in earlier...
Originally Published in The Daily Caller Al Qaeda, Taliban extremists, and Mike Huckabee have at least one thing in common — all believe Islam is a violent religion. In a recent tirade, Huckabee wondered, “why it is that we tiptoe around a religion that promotes the most murderous mayhem on the planet in their so-called holiest days. … the most likely time to have an uprising of rock throwing and...