Originally published in Zion-Benton News As Americans, this Jan. 20th we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We dedicate the day to his achievements and his successes. Dr. King was a legend who combated racial inequality through nonviolence. Dr. King organised the 1963 march on Washington, D.C. calling it, “the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” As...
Originally published in The Times Herald What is the best way to achieve world peace? With President Obama’s inaugural ceremony just taken place, scholars will propose what the president should do, indirectly answering the question above. As a Muslim-American, I want to first congratulate the president on his re-election and pray that he will lead the nation effectively during his second term. I...
Originally published in The Orange County Register Most people are often surprised to hear that Jesus is a highly esteemed figure in Islam. My friend once asked, “Is this a new idea within Islam?” thinking that, perhaps, Muslims recently concocted this notion. In reality, Jesus is not only considered a prophet in Islam (a fact many Christians are familiar with). In fact, Jesus is...
Originally published in Fox News A recent FoxNews.com op-ed asks, “Where is the Muslim Mandela?” While alleging that such a person does not exist, and that Muslims do not seek such a person, the piece provides a laundry list of injustices done by extremists in the name of Islam — and holds 1.56 billion Muslims responsible. While the piece may have been well intentioned, it has...
Originally published in the Orange County Register Most people are often surprised to hear that Jesus is a highly esteemed figure in Islam. My friend once asked, “Is this a new idea within Islam?” thinking that, perhaps, Muslims recently concocted this notion. In reality, Jesus is not only considered a prophet in Islam (a fact many Christians are familiar with). In fact, Jesus is...
Originally published in the Liberty Magezine Religious blasphemy laws can be a touchy subject, especially in Pakistan, where just bringing up the subject of the blasphemy laws and whether they are right or wrong is considered, well …blasphemous. This wasn’t always the case. The sentiment behind most blasphemy laws is easy to understand. No person or group should insult another religion’s beliefs...
Originally published in the Northwestern What do Ted Cruz, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock, and Bono all have in common? They all supported the late Mr. Nelson Mandela in one way or another sometime during their life. It’s strange to know that such a motley crew would appreciate Mandela but to me his biggest ideals were equal rights irrespective of race, sex, religious...
Originally published in the New York Daily News A recent crisis highlights the distance between so-called “Islamic” extremists and the true teachings of Muhammed. In the Charter of Privileges granted to Christians under Muhammed’s leadership, it is clearly stated, “Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.” Despite this clear injunction, 12...
Originally published in the Akron Beacon Journal We should all join Pope Francis in his prayers for the nuns in Syria who were kidnapped by rebel troops. It is claimed that these nuns were taken for safety, but this is very unlikely, as minorities such as Christians throughout the two-and-a-half-year war have been caught in this huge mess, and many of their towns and places of worship have been...
Originally published in New York Daily A recent crisis highlights the distance between so-called “Islamic” extremists and the true teachings of Muhammed. In the Charter of Privileges granted to Christians under Muhammed’s leadership, it is clearly stated, “Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.” Despite this clear injunction, 12 Orthodox...