The terrible news of four Marines and a sailor shot to death in Chattanooga doesn’t come as a surprise. While details remain sketchy, the story line in similar attacks is all too familiar: A young man born and bred in the West with a seemingly normal life and a future falls prey to an extremist ideology and goes up in flames taking down innocents with him. What little we know about Muhammad...
The late Lucky Dube, a famous reggae musician from South Africa once said, “when I see a black man, I see the image of God. When a see a white man, I see the image of God. And that’s the way it should be. We belong together.” Unfortunately however, this is not the reality in many situations such as with the cold-blooded killing of black Christian worshippers in Charleston South...
Seidu Malik The existence of God in the modern day world has become a hotly contested debate. While it is true that no one can offer any objective evidence of ever seeing God, it is also not the first time that people have demanded to see God or have doubt in the existence of God. In fact, both the Bible and the Quran tell us that despite the numerous Signs shown by God to the Israelites during...
Several states have appropriately beefed up security at military recruitment centers in the wake of the Chattanooga shooting tragedy. This Muslim-American would add that the best way to counter the threat of radicalization (of any group) is to inculcate the golden values of loyalty and common respect. That’s why a bulk of the youth of my Ahmadiyya Muslim Community joined in parades across...
Originally published on Philly.com My prayers go out to all those affected by the tragic hostage crisis in Australia on Monday (“Sydney hostage crisis ends in gunfire; 3 dead,” Dec. 16). As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) USA, I strongly condemn such acts. Such acts against peace and humanity have no place in the fold of Islam. Because of this, the AMYA has...
Originally published in The Press Enterprise The horrific killing of at least 132 schoolchildren and nine adults by the Taliban in Pakistan saddens me tremendously as a parent, a Muslim and a son of Pakistani immigrants. There is no place for this senseless violence. It must be condemned in the strongest terms. The Pakistani government must come down hard on these cowards who are an embarrassment...
Originally published on Syraquse.com With the holidays around the corner, how must one feel when one moment they’re happily purchasing gourmet chocolate for their families, and the next they’re taken hostage and forced to hold up what is believed to be an ISIS flag. Because of such militant groups, there is an ongoing trend towards radicalization of youth around the world. As members...
Originally published in the Baltimore Sun I am appalled by the disclosures of the CIA’s torture report on the treatment of suspected terrorist detainees (“Report condemns CIA over torture,” Dec. 10). Not only does the treatment defy the Geneva Conventions to which we subscribe, they undermine our moral standing as a nation. I thought that such actions were beneath our dignity...
Originally publish in the New Haven Register Halloween was over a month ago — a day to revel over ghoulish characters and hideous images. And now we are supposed to be in a season of merry. These days, though, it seems like scenes reminiscent of Halloween continue to haunt us. The latest dread is the report released last Tuesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee about the CIA’s use of torture...
Originally published in the Huffington Post Religious clerics in Pakistan celebrate September 7th as a day of victory for Islam and Pakistan. Officially dubbed the “Khatme Nubuwwat Day” or “Finality of Prophethood Day,” many mosques come alive with celebrations this day, sweets are distributed andintense speeches are made in large religious gatherings. Forty years ago this...