Originally Published in The Daily Herald Sami Hassoun’s anger at the world, perhaps even at the Cubs, could have been overturned had he only followed his daily prescription — face east and prostrate into prayer. This is how Muslims should reconcile their anger, by praying for the salvation of their nation — not by setting plots to destroy the very cities in which we live. This is the oath I have...
Originally Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer As an Ahmadi Muslim, I oppose the president’s position on gay marriage. Islam teaches us to be kind to other human beings. Therefore, discriminating against a gay person would be a violation of my faith. However, the Quran also reminds us of the people of prophet Lot, who practiced homosexuality. After countless warnings, Lot’s people were...
Originally Published in The Cincinnati Enquirer I take pride in the fact that America, in the face of adversity, strives to take the high road; there is a clear distinction between us and our enemies. Our enemies are the ones that spread terror, they are the ones that attack churches, and they are the ones that wish to subjugate the world. Lt. Col. Dooley’s class aimed at educating military...
Originally Published in The Express Tribune As a rejected son, how do you celebrate Mother’s Day? Who enjoys the breakfast tray? Who receives the flower bouquet? That’s my story. But it’s not my biological mother who rejected me. It’s my motherland – Pakistan. So on this Mother’s Day, let me have a heart to heart talk with you – my motherland. You don’t want to accept my love; that’s your choice...
Originally Published in The Orange County Register FULLERTON, Ahsan M. Khan: I was pleased to learn that the World Evangelical Alliance condemned the recent burning of the Quran by Pastor Terry Jones. Jones burned the Quran to protest the recent death sentence imposed by the Iranian government on a pastor accused of preaching to Muslims. He claimed that this was his way of protesting. Afghanistan...
Originally Published in The Cincinnati Enquirer May 2nd marks the end of the longest manhunt in American history. Bin Laden is gone but his followers still remain, his ideology – “Bin Ladenism” – still persists. How can we defeat this ideology of hate? An ideology can be suppressed by force but can only be defeated by an alternate more appealing ideology. There are many in the Muslim world...
Originally Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The death of Osama bin Laden was a major milestone in the war on terrorism (“Where al-Qaeda is, minus its leader,” Monday). However, we must realize that this war is not over yet. Bin Laden is dead, but “Bin Ladenism” — an ideology based on hatred and violence — is still alive in many parts of the Muslim world. As Muslim Americans, our...
Originally Published in The The Democrat and Chronicle Pastor Terry Jones recently voiced his concern that Islam’s only goal was world domination, and that “We must take back America.” If Pastor Jones was to look at the true teachings of Islam, he would find no reason to worry. Islam supports the separation of religion and state, and forbids the imposition of Islam on those who do not want to...
Originally Published in Al-Bayan: The Muslim Student Publication At The University Of California, Berkeley What if I told you the American Bar Association banned Pepsi from court vendors because it is produced by Christians. You’d probably be dismayed by the irony of injustice perpetrated by an institution of justice, right? Well so was I, friends, when I heard the Lahore Bar Association in...
Originally Published in Al-Bayan Some may disagree with this article’s title. As non-Muslims face religious persecution in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran, some rightly ask whether Islam can cultivate interfaith inclusion. Just recently, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti called for the destruction of all churches in the Arabian Peninsula. If this heinous act is carried out, it would...