Originally published in The Express Tribune Teacher to Akram and Aslam: You both failed the test because you were late for class. Why were you late? Akram: Sir, I was busy looking for my atthani which I lost on my way to school today. Teacher: What is your reason Aslam? Aslam: (Sheepishly): Sorry sir, but I was standing on top of his atthani, hiding it. Reading such knock-knock jokes on the last...
Originally published in Santa Clarita Valley Signal I just returned from spending a week in Moore, Okla., helping the victims of the tornado get back on their feet. I also helped raise money to replace a broken cross-headstone for a Christian widow so that her children could have something by which to remember their father. Each day, I saw countless “I love Jesus” signs, as...
Star Local News Originally Published in Star Local News Guns don’t kill people, people kill people – but is this really an excuse for the heinous acts that strip away innocent lives year after year? The vast majority of us are law-abiding, responsible gun owners. However, there will always be a select few that jeopardize our rights. It is an unfair truth in life. Churches are being desecrated...
Originally published in Akron Beacon Journal If the Quran says that Muslims are “raised for the good of mankind,” then how are Muslims benefiting the society around them? I cannot speak for the 2.2 billion Muslims throughout the world, but I can tell you that the community I belong to, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has a 125-year track record of being a peaceful and service-oriented...
Originally published in Cincinnati Enquirer Last year, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy left Americans in great distress as New York City, one of the world’s largest cities, suffered greatly. This gave me an opportunity to travel to the disaster site and offer my aid to those in need. More importantly, being a Muslim American, I was able to show the true Islam – to serve humanity as a part of our...
Originally published in Appleton Post-Crescent As a Muslim-American, I feel it is our obligation to help those in need and take care of our communities. Places like Oklahoma, because of their recent tornado-related disasters, are in need of immediate service from anyone able to assist. A basic tenet of Islam and the good example of Prophet Muhammad is service to humanity. Following this...
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 Huffington Post On May 11, the world’s second most populous Muslim country, Pakistan, marked a historic election. The country’s 66-year history is marred by the presence of martial laws and never before has one elected government replaced another. As Pakistanis rushed to the polling stations to cast their vote, more than 4 million people sat home...
Originally published in Duluth News Tribune
Two Muslim brothers from Chechnya devastated the Boston Marathon on April 15, resulting in three deaths and many injuries. Apparently the brothers sought to justify this brutal act of violence by calling it a jihad in protest of American troops in Afghanistan. They were completely wrong.
Originally published in 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...