There are no words to describe the senseless and barbaric act of violence committed in Charlotesville, Va., on Saturday. Such loss of innocent life is always tragic. I am reminded of a quote coined by the Third Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, “Love for all, hatred for none.” We in the Ahmadiyya community condemn the perpertrators of this violence in the strongest terms, and show our...
Originally Published: The Press-Enterprise 08/02/2018 Re: “Riverside imam accused of anti-Semitic sermon that called Jews ‘tyrants’” [News, Aug. 1]: As an Ahmadi Muslim, I was dismayed to learn of the anti-Semitic remarks made by a local Imam at a Riverside mosque. Such divisive language is toxic to our social climate today and we need to build bridges, rather than burn them, to make our nation...
Originally published in Patheos Bismillah wa alhamdulillah wa salawat ‘ala Rasulillah. I, Dr. John Andrew Morrow, known as Ilyas ‘Abd al-‘Alim Islam, am honored to address the 69th Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. I am one of the few Muslim leaders who leads Friday prayers for Sunnis, who performs majlis for Shiis, who participates in dhikr with Sufis, and who speaks on the...
Previously Published on Cleveland.com The 69th annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA will take place this coming weekend in Harrisburg, Pa. The purpose of this convention, as outlined by the Founder of the Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, is for members to gather from all across the country to build bonds of brotherhood and increase their spirituality and knowledge by...
Originally published in Observer Reporter 07/15/2017 Muslims all around the world celebrated Eid last month. The festival of Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, and is celebrated with the sighting of the moon crescent. Eid is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon all the spiritual progress made by Muslims in the last month. Apart from abstaining from food and water, Muslims...
This was published on the Sentinel & Express website on July 15th,2017: This weekend, thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims from across the country will travel to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the 69th annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. The founder of the community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, stated that this is no ordinary convention, and he was right. This three-day...
Originally Published in The Connection Newspaper on July 5th, 2017 As an American Muslim I want to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July as we celebrate the many freedoms and rights this country affords us all. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I am especially aware of the importance of these rights as I came from a Muslim-majority country where the rights of all minorities, Muslim and non-Muslim, are...
Originally Published in the Sun Sentinel on July 4th, 2017 by Usama Chaudhry Today we will celebrate Independence Day and the founding of the United States of America. This momentous occasion reminds us of the effort by the Founding Fathers of the United States to create an independent nation ruled by a just government. One of the most important sections of the Declaration of Independence reads...
Originally Published in Patheos on July 7th, 2017 The recent hate crimes targeting Muslims has made the month of Ramadan exceptionally difficult. This past month witnessed nationwide anti-shariah protests by a Muslim hate group known as ACT for America[1]. There has also been a surge in attacks against Muslims including an attack on a Mosque in North London [2] and the kidnapping-murder of Nabra...
Published in the Richmond Times Dispatch on June 22nd 2017: As the month of Ramadan came to an end, Muslims everywhere celebrated with Eid al-Fitr. Typically, Eid is a time for reflection on a month dedicated to abstaining from sin. Muslims fill the month by giving back to their communities and to the needy. This Ramadan was no different as countless Muslims around the world gave food, clothes...