Originally published in The Hartford Courant There is a dire need to stand up against religious persecution. Last Monday, after paying tribute to our men and women in uniform on Memorial Day, my religious community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, commemorated another recent American hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his service. Dr. Mehdi Qamar, a cardiologist practicing near...
Originally published in Pittsburgh Gazette As a Muslim, I was shocked to read that a so-called Muslim group in Nigeria, Boko Haram, which literally translates to “Western education [is a] sin,” recently committed the heinous act of abducting more than 200 schoolgirls in the Chibok region. Compare the group’s radical message to the actual teachings of Islam’s founder, the Prophet Muhammad, who...
Originally published in New Haven Register World War I. When was that? We are so caught up with the problems in the world today that it is hard to believe that the first global war started 100 years ago, in 1914. Put aside present concerns, or better yet, put them in view, and let’s look a century back. I think you’ll be surprised to see major parallels. There aren’t any WWI veterans alive...
Originally published in Hartford Courant February is Black History Month and a time to reassess our commitment to racial equality. The subjugation of Africans to slavery in America is one of the biggest stains on our nation. Sadly, some slave owners went so far as to use an account in the Bible about Noah’s genealogy to legitimize the maltreatment of Africans. Religion should bring people...
Originally published in The Courant Jazz legend Yusef Lateef, who passed away this week, truly lived up to his title of the “Gentle Giant.” He was tall and yet soft-spoken. Although a grand musician and a composer — having received a Grammy and named an American Jazz Master — he was unassuming. He had no special pose or signature rap, other than a soft smile when he met...
Originally Published in the New Haven Register My name is “Sohail.” Based on my Indian ancestry, my name is pronounced just the way it’s spelled. But because I’m a Muslim and my name is derived from Arabic, it’s technically pronounced “Su-hayl.” Try explaining that to someone on the other line when you’re trying to phone in a rushed order for Chinese takeout. So out of convenience, I will...
Originally published in New Haven Register I’m really looking forward to the midst of summer. But I won’t be sipping tea during the day or basking in the midday sun. Instead, I’ll be immersed — along with about a billion other Muslims — in Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting which began in the second week of July. Ramadan is one of the 12 months of the...
Originally published in Journal Inquirer This Muslim-American was appalled to read that Buddhist monks in Burma led by Ashin Wirathu, a priest who calls himself “the Burmese bin Laden,” are bent on exterminating the Rohingya ethnic minority explicitly because they are Muslims. It is well-known that the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha, was a peacemaker. Little known, though, is that...
Originally published in New Haven Register The news seems to report much about problem leaders of the Muslim world. They include bloodthirsty extremists, fiery Mullahs and unyielding autocrats. Also, throw in the chatter from absolute cynics who can’t believe that a practicing Muslim could possibly live a life of peace. And we are left to ask: Where are the good guys in the group...
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...