Originally published on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette I was extremely saddened and hurt when I found out about the attacks in Paris and Beirut, which resulted in the loss of more than 170 lives. The perpetrators did this under the guise of Islam and by loudly proclaiming “Allaho Akbar,” which literally means God is the greatest. But their actions were brutal, inhumane and of a very low standard. My...
Originally published In Pennsylvania Live Your attacks in Paris (and around the world) sicken me. My immense sadness at the innocent loss of life is rivaled only by the extreme anger I feel towards you. I don’t know where your funding is coming from that allows you to still function. But as a Muslim, I do know this – Your hatred and your violence is prohibited by the religion that you...
Originally Published in Huffington Post As I left my mosque in Philadelphia Friday afternoon my phone lit up with texts and tweets about attacks in Paris. Muslims have been conditioned on how to respond to these attacks. First, we feel pain for the loss of life. And most certainly my heart sank as I saw the horrific aftermath of the Paris attacks. Then, almost as quickly we hope the attackers...
Originally published in The Cross Timber Gazette On the evening of Friday, November 13th, nearly 130 people were brutally murdered in attacks in six separate sites across Paris, France. ISIS has claimed responsibility and President Francois Hollande has called the attack “an act of war.” The barbaric attack against innocent civilian lives in Paris, France is condemnable and we extend our...
Originally published in The Orange County Register Sadly, this is not the first or last time I write a letter to this paper, condemning another cowardly terrorist attack by a self-proclaimed Muslim organization. But here I am again, back at it. And I can never stop. For to be silent is to be disrespectful not just to the victims and their families, but to the religion of Islam itself. The voice...
Originally published in The News and Observer People from all walks of life, irrespective of their race and political affiliations, partake in holiday activity this season through charitable giving and spending quality time with friends and family. Charitable giving and taking care of loved ones form the basis of both Christian and Islamic teachings. Despite the obvious doctrinal differences...
Originally published in The Charlotte Observer Social and political upheavals dominate the world news today. Innocent lives, property, and wealth are destroyed each year due to social, political, and racial tensions. According to the Bible and the Quran, this vicious cycle of violence in human society can be traced back as far as the time of Adam when Cain murdered his brother, Abel. Since then...
Originally published in Patheos Never before in the history of mankind has the world witnessed such a mass migration of refugees. They come seeking shelter and safe haven from the barbaric onslaught of ISIS and President Assad’s regime. As the world watches in horror the untold sufferings of thousands of refugees in the Middle East and Europe (Hungary and Greece) on TV, one cannot help but...
Originally published in The Express Tribune Mr Abbasi stated that judging someone’s faith – whether they were Muslim or not, and how ‘true’ of a Muslim they were – was a prerogative of God alone. Human beings must not judge others, or at least not punish and hurt others based on their own judgment. This is a very simple concept. But in Pakistan, where narrow-minded intolerant religious scholars...
Originally Posted in the Hudson Hub Times As ISIS continues to gain ground in Syria, the Muslim world and the entire world at large must look for examples of peaceful Muslims. There is no better example than the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which is led by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad. Recently, Ahmad went to the Dutch Parliament explaining ways that both the West and Muslim-majority governments can...