Originally published in Appleton Post-Crescent As a Muslim-American, I feel it is our obligation to help those in need and take care of our communities. Places like Oklahoma, because of their recent tornado-related disasters, are in need of immediate service from anyone able to assist. A basic tenet of Islam and the good example of Prophet Muhammad is service to humanity. Following this...
Originally published in Duluth News Tribune
Two Muslim brothers from Chechnya devastated the Boston Marathon on April 15, resulting in three deaths and many injuries. Apparently the brothers sought to justify this brutal act of violence by calling it a jihad in protest of American troops in Afghanistan. They were completely wrong.
Originally published in Northwest Herald “It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other, the future of humanity will never be able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war.” Pope John Paul II made this powerful statement back in 2003. Today, I am reminded of this same sentiment as I hear...
Originally published in Hartford Courant Boston suffered an atrocious act of terror. As a Muslim, I unequivocally condemn any form of terrorism and hate. I send my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the victims of this inhumane crime. I pray Bostonians will not allow terror to prevail and will stand strong with unity and love in the wake of this attack. I hope this spirit of love...
Originally published in NY Post I wish to express my gratitude to Qanta Ahmed for her incisive article on the role of “jihad” in Islam (“Forget About Motive,” PostOpinion, April 30). Her article helped me see through the miasma of what is now called jihad so as to appreciate the valid need for the “lesser jihad” and the grandeur of the “greater jihad.” Judaism, Christianity and Islam all...
Originally published in Chicago Tribune Today, unfortunately, the words Islam and terrorism seem synonymous. This, however, cannot be the case because the Holy Quran clearly states, “Whosoever kills a person, it is as if he has killed all of mankind” (5:32). Terrorism has no religion, race or color. It is simply a treacherous evil. With the Boston Marathon bombings, there has...
Originally published in Santa Barbara News-Press As a Muslim, I am saddened and condemn the terrorism in the Boston Marathon bombing. The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness and Khalifa of Islam Mirza Masroor Ahmad, condemned the bombings in a recent sermon. Moreover, His Holiness was saddened that Muslims were the first to be targeted as the culprits of this...
Originally published in The Oshkosh Northwestern Since we are all in the business of labeling things these days, let me begin with a couplet from Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,” where Juliet, the protagonist, responds to her love Romeo, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Her angle was that names...
Originally published in Philly Enquirer The Boston bombings gave me a double whammy. As an American, I am deeply saddened by the deaths of three people and the dozens wounded. My heart goes out to the victims’ families. As a Muslim, though, I am disturbed by headlines saying Islam might have played a secondary role. Violence and evil has no religion. Boston bombings are as evil as the...
Originally Published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer It is unfortunate that when I first heard about the Boston Marathon bombings, instead of thinking “Oh, God, please have mercy on the victims and their families,” I thought, “Oh, God, please do not let the perpetrators be Muslim.” When I heard the perpetrators were from Chechnya, I made another mistake; I sighed with relief...