Originally Published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette My heart goes out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. It is outrageous that in our country today that even the wholesome act of running has become unsafe. I can empathize because my peace-loving religious group, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, lives under the constant threat of extremist violence in Pakistan. In fact, on May 28...
Originally published in San Antonio Express-News After running 26 miles in a major marathon, one would expect to be greeted by family and friends as they congratulate you on such an amazing feat. However, this year some runners were greeted by bombs. The Boston Marathon Bombings will go down in history as one of the most gruesome acts of terror in U.S. history. However, history proves that...
Originally Published in the Huffington Post Our hospital’s chapel is typically empty. I offer my afternoon prayers there. Yesterday, as I was hopping from one patient room to another, I saw the dreadful slide of “Breaking News” of the Boston Bombings across TV screens. And even before I knew the death count, my Twitter feed was abuzz with various forms of prayer requests and...
Originally Published in The Huffington Post Our hospital’s chapel is typically empty. I offer my afternoon prayers there. Yesterday, as I was hopping from one patient room to another, I saw the dreadful slide of “Breaking News” of the Boston Bombings across TV screens. And even before I knew the death count, my Twitter feed was abuzz with various forms of prayer requests and...
Originally Published in the Northwest Herald “It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other, the future of humanity will never be able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war.” Pope John Paul II made this powerful statement back in 2003. Today, I am reminded of this same sentiment as I hear Pope...
Originally Published in the Huffington Post Take for example, last week’s dual-covers of the Time, flaunting two men and two women kissing with a headline “Gay Marriage Already Won.” Knowing how millions of opponents of same-sex marriage might react to such images, Time‘s Managing Editor, Rick Stengel, preemptively coaxed them toward a decision by writing this in...
As a Muslim, I was pleased to see millions of Catholics rejoice upon learning of their new leader. I wish to congratulate Pope Francis on this office and hope for a brighter, more peaceful world of interfaith cooperation. As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I relate with my fellow Catholics the happiness and purposefulness that comes with a central leading figure. For us, a Khalifa...
On March 13, a new pope, Pope Francis I, was elected. The head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, also known as the Khalifa of Islam, congratulated the new pope. “I hope and pray that in the forthcoming era, the pope uses his influence to develop peace and harmony in the world,” he said. Fourteen hundred years ago, Prophet Muhammad taught to respect all religions...
As an American Muslim, I do not celebrate Easter. However, I look forward to it every year. After Easter, Easter chocolate and candy are very cheap. However, that is not the only reason I enjoy Easter time. March 23, 1889, is the day the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established. Around the same time every year that Christians believe Jesus Christ spiritually rose, Ahmadi Muslims believe Mirza...
Three months after the shocking Newtown tragedy, America’s top lawmakers remain unable to take action on gun-control legislation. Instead, a fierce fight between President Obama and the gun lobby is on the rise. The gun lobby portrays Obama as an elite hypocrite who wants to abolish the Second Amendment by taking away Americans’ right to self-defense. Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights...