Originally Published in The Austin Chronicle Dear Editor, The shooting outside an event in Garland where people were asked to draw cartoons of Prophet Muhammad should be condemned by all. Islam does not condone any punishment for blasphemy. In fact, during the Prophet Muhammad’s life, people hurled all kinds of abuse at him yet he bore it with patience and forgave them all. Those who act against...
Originally published in Citizen Times As an American Muslim, I find it increasingly necessary for me to practice and advocate the true teachings of Islam. In the wake of several isolated incidences of “lone wolf” terrorism inspired by ISIS, there is a greater need to bring to the forefront Islamic solutions to the problem of radicalization of youth. To this effect, the Ahmadiyya...
Originally Published in Chattanooga Times Free Press – The protests in Baltimore have brought the racial divide in America back into the spotlight. But unlike the protests in the 1960s, these protests center mostly on police brutality, specifically towards African-Americans. However, even such circumstances don’t warrant violent rioting. Just like in the ’60s, this problem will...
Originally Published in The Beaverton Valley Times – 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 for me. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I have been taught that Islam condemns the taking of an innocent life. In fact, the Quran teaches...
Originally Published in The Baltimore Sun The First Amendment guarantees the right of peaceful assembly for the redress of grievances. But what is peaceful about the destruction of homes and the burning of buildings across Baltimore? (“Baltimore descends into chaos, violence, looting,” April 28.) The protests have been anything but peaceful and have spurred violent...
Originally published in The Daily Reflector In light of several attacks that took place on June 26, I find it only appropriate to condemn these actions to the utmost. In France, there was an explosion in a factory followed by the discovery of a severed head with Arabic writing on it. In Tunisia, gunmen killed nearly 40 tourists at an oceanfront hotel. In Kuwait, an ISIS attack killed 25...
Originally published 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...
Originally Published in the Star Tribune The inflammatory comments made by Big Stone County Republican Party chairman Jack Whitley, and the subsequent developments, made me, as an American Muslim, appreciate how fortunate I am to reside in this country (“FB posts cost GOP boss day job,” Nov. 25). From the action taken by business owners Bob and Sue Kulbeik to stand up against bigotry, to the...
Originally Published in The Philadelphia Enquirer and the USA Today As a Muslim living in America, I wondered if I should celebrate Thanksgiving. Sure, I enjoy eating turkey, gathering around with family members to watch a good game of football and spending the weekend with them, but what does my faith say about this? I recently read a passage in the Quran that stated, “If you are grateful...
Originally published in the Dallas Morning News Thanksgiving is a time to remember the blessings bestowed upon us, but we shouldn’t just keep one day aside, remembering all we have been given. In Islam like many other religions, I was taught that we should be thankful every single day. In the Holy Quran, it is stated, “Surely, Allah (God) is gracious towards mankind, but most of them are not...