Originally posted in Rochester Media Why are our Christian brothers and sisters being murdered so brutally? It sickens me that ISIS executed 30 Ethiopian Christians the other day. And while grieving for my fellow human beings, I am both angered and puzzled. The terrorist organization known as ISIS are sociopaths. I have accepted the logic behind that. What I cannot accept is their inhumane...
What motivates ISIS members: Letter to the Editor
Originally posted in The Oregonian Power, not religion: As an American Muslim, I read about the atrocities committed by ISIS and my heart is filled with grief and anguish. To think that someone could commit such heinous crimes against humanity is beyond comprehension to me. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I have been taught that Islam condemns the taking of an innocent life. In fact, the Quran teaches that...
Muslims speak up on hateful SEPTA ads
Originally posted in Delaware County Daily Times After a lengthy legal battle with SEPTA, the American Freedom Defense Initiative will start advertising on buses in Philadelphia with the phrase “Islamic-Jew Hatred: It’s in the Quran.” As an American Muslim, I’m not sure what the goal of these advertisements are aside from inciting anger. I can point to numerous examples in the Quran and the life...
Terrorists have no respect for the religion they hide behind
Originally posted in Duluth News Tribune On April 2, a Somali-based terrorist group called Al-Shabab attacked a Kenyan school, killing nearly 150 students, mostly Christians. Al-Shabab’s spokesperson told BBC it attacked the school because “it’s on Muslim land colonized by non-Muslims.” The baseless rationale behind Al-Shabab’s despicable act reminded me of an old Christian lady I met a few years...
Mourning the loss
Originally posted in Advisor and Source Newspaper And so the carnage continues. A Bengali blogger, Oyasiqur Rhaman, was hacked to death on Monday morning by three assailants after posting satirical comments against extremist Muslims. These so called “Muslims” should be punished by the full extent of the law, and those that have been promoting and influencing people to commit such...
Harmony, not strife
Originally posted in Philadelphia Enquirer Recently, I traveled with 200 of my Muslim brothers in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association from across the country to London to visit the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mizra Masoor Ahmad. He advised us to return with a message to encourage people to establish a relationship with their God. He also advised us to proactively share the true...
Who are you calling ‘basic’?
Originally posted on The Daily Tribune Recently, there have been allegations within the media regarding discrimination in the City of Rochester Hills. Our Mosque, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center, is located in this beautiful city and though I cannot speak to every aspect of discrimination, or for other groups claiming to be discriminated against, I can say we have experience that is...
Letters Muslim Community Strives For Coexistence
Originally posted in Hartford Courant Happy Promised Messiah Day! Amid the riches of another equinox, Rama Navami, Passover and Easter, millions worldwide commemorate the modest founding of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. This metaphysical Ark was constructed 126 years ago on March 23 by his holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah prophesied by many faiths. Ahmadi...
Christening our Muslim land with blood
Originally posted on The Tribune Five years ago, I lost close friends in one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil. In twin attacks on two major Ahmadi places of worship in Lahore, 88 worshippers were martyred by the Taliban. It was a painfully bloody day. This weekend, I woke up to sad news from Pakistan that made me relive some of that pain. Fourteen worshipers were martyred...
Mayhem in Lahore (II)
Originally posted on The Tribune NEW JERSEY: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack on two churches in Lahore. In 2013, a similar church attack in Peshawar claimed more than 80 innocent lives. These extremists defy the teachings of the Holy Quran which instructs Muslims to protect all places of worship, explicitly mentioning churches. The perpetrators of...