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AuthorHaris Raja

Haris Raja received his MBA from University of Maryland College Park, and now works as Senior System Engineer at Cisco Systems. He serves as National Director for Walk for Humanity USA, an initiative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association to raise awareness for and combat hunger in America.
May 17, 2017

Visiting the Khalifa: A Life Changing Experience

By Haris Raja
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17May

Originally Published on Beliefnet  In the first week of May 2017, nearly 300 young Muslim men from the US went to visit the Khalifa of Islam, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad in London, UK. The event was organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association USA. Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the Head of the world wide Ahmadiyya Muslim community. For the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, His...

December 9, 2015

Raja:On being Muslim

By Haris Raja
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09December

Originally published in the Loudoun Times I am writing this piece in light of the recent shooting in San Bernardino. As an American Muslim, I am providing my perspective on ISIS and the kind of leadership Muslims need in these troubled times. Muslim leaders need to advocate the true Islamic teachings of peace and tolerance. The horrific incident at San Bernardino last week sent a shock wave...

November 21, 2015

Syrian Refugees are not terrorists, ISIS is

By Haris Raja
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21November

Originally Published in Patheos There are millions of Syrian refugees who are longing for a glimmer of hope to breathe freely, to live a respectable life and to be able to give their children a better future than the dismal situation they find themselves in. A single act of insanity like the French attack may jeopardize the chances of millions of legitimate refugees who are searching for a better...

October 4, 2015

Five Points every American needs to know about the Islamic Teachings

By Haris Raja
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04October

Originally published in OpEd News Presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson recently said in a television interview that no Muslim should become the president of the United States. His remarks stem from the Islamophobia many have due to the horrible depiction of Islam by extremist groups like ISIS. Sharia law appears to be at the root of this fear. Polls show that most Americans have not met a Muslim...

September 20, 2015

Ahmadiyya Reformation in Islam

By Haris Raja
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20September

In an article published in the Wall Street Journal entitled Why Islam needs a reformation, Ayaan Hirsi listed five areas of Islam that “require amendment.” Hirsi is pointing out the violent behavior of certain people or groups who call themselves Muslims, attributing it to Islam, and suggesting a man-made reform to solve it. Her five point reformation plan is not the solution to the...

September 20, 2015

Prophet Moses in the Holy Quran

By Haris Raja
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The Iran nuclear deal has started political posturing from both sides as congressional members begin assessing the deal in the next few weeks. The GOP sees Iran nuke deal as a chance to cultivate Jewish voters. Various American Jewish organizations are arming themselves for multi-million dollar campaigns “targeting lawmakers still undecided about this agreement”. Behind the scenes of this...

September 20, 2015

Chattanooga Shooting: Islam does not condone violence

By Haris Raja
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The recent Chattanooga shootings sparked the same debate that gets started every time the alleged perpetrator happens to be a Muslim. Islamophobes pounce on it like a drooling dog jumps on a bone. While the rest of the nation is deeply pained by such a horrible tragedy and is offering condolences to the afflicted families, Islamophobes are busy accusing Islam of violence and bloodshed. The notion...

September 20, 2015

On being Muslim-spread happiness

By Haris Raja
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My friend’s daughter spent her 7th birthday in a unique way. Unlike other kids her age who want to decorate their house with balloons, order a giant birthday cake, invite all their friends and expect a lot of presents, she decided to do it differently. There was no party planned at her house that day. Instead she took seven brand new toys (because she turned 7) and gave them to the patients at...

September 20, 2015

Drawing Prophet Muhammad is Not an Issue of Freedom of Speech

By Haris Raja
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When Charlie Hebdo’s editor, Laurent Sourisseau, announced a few days ago that the he would no longer draw cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, I wondered how the self-proclaimed champions of “free speech” would react to this statement. In a couple of days time,Daniel Payne came out with a clamorous article, titled “If Charlie Hebdo Won’t Draw Muhammed, Who Will?”...

September 20, 2015

Response to an Islamophobe

By Haris Raja
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Pamela Geller has drawn some outrageous conclusions about Islam and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in response to an article by a member of that community. I have pointed out some factual inconsistencies of Ms. Geller’s statements. I am exclusively submitting this piece for your consideration for publication. I am a member of Muslim Writers Guild of America and my work has previously been published...