Originally published in The Santa Barbara Independent Civil War. Two words to describe today. No one would have conceived that America — the greatest country in the world — could even be categorized to be in a state that could be described as a “civil war.” But one man did: His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In 2016, CBC news reporter Peter...
Originally published in the Santa Barbara Independent According to them, it is an act of Islamic virtue to fire a pistol or gun at an innocent person. Where are those who will act like the Companions of the Holy Prophet and remain patient while suffering torture? Has God commanded us to capture complete strangers and cut them to pieces or to shoot them without reason or proof of an offence? Can a...
As an American Muslim, I fully condemn the actions of the extremists who opened fire at the “Draw Muhammad” cartoon event hosted by an anti-Muslim hate group. Although Prophet Muhammad holds a special place in the hearts of all Muslims, it goes against the core of Prophet Muhammad’s teachings to respond with violence. When Prophet Muhammad himself was humiliated, he never responded with violence...
When I tell my friends how I met my fiancée, they say I got the easy way out. Many of them tell me the tales of dating they have had to go through to win over their current life partners. Unlike the norm, I met my fiancé through a process more akin to one from a Jane Austin novel. I had met her while studying at UC Berkeley and was attracted by her character and her hijab. A few years later when...
George Washington once said, “Discipline is the soul of an army.” Indeed, our founding father knew what discipline meant when just a handful of Americans had to earn the freedom that we hold dear today. The soul of that revolutionary army is what created the soul of America today. A very little known fact from that time is that part of the soul of those early patriots were the souls of American...
Originally published in Santa Barbara Independent I woke up at 3:50 a.m. today. I did some prayers, ate a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats, and did some prayers again. I will not eat any food or water until sunset around 8:20 p.m. Muslims around the world — about 1.3 billion people — are following a similar routine for 30 days for the month of Ramadan. There is a cool serenity at 3:50 a.m. that...
Originally published in Santa Barbara Independent He wore a red bandana. Despite seeing the blood of those dying around him, he decided to go back into the smoky building. Despite the noise of the stricken building, his soothing voice calmed the injured. Despite being just a young 24-year-old among fleeing civilians, he was found buried among firefighters, emergency personnel, and other heroes...
Originally published in The Santa Barbara Independent Sometimes, metal bullets create the most noise. The violent actions of a few can remind us of a history of hatred. When two Jewish centers were systematically attacked in Kansas City this past Sunday, we all were reminded of the history of anti-Semitism in our society. But a murderer’s actions have no foundation when we all realize our common...
Originally published in The Santa Barbara Independent The impetus of the United States was but a handful of pilgrims fleeing from religious persecution. Since the founding of this great nation in 1776, freedom of religion has been etched into the fabric of our Constitution and impressed by our leaders. George Washington once said, “Every man … ought to be protected in worshiping the Deity...
Originally Published in The Santa Barbara Independent About 85 years ago, a man was brought into the world who forever challenged racism in America. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of creating a racism-free America has since challenged racial inequality in various ways. But even before the advent of Dr. King, Prophet Muhammad of Islam challenged racism in the world 1,500 years ago...