Originally published in the Good Men Project Sharia, like many Arabic words in a post-9/11 world, is a touchy subject. Enraged thoughts are common from the mere utterance of these words. This leads to unsubstantiated opinions mixing in with facts. This is evident in Dom’s piece “If Liberals knew these 5 Sharia laws, they’d be ‘Islamophobic’ too”. A writer can, with a few strokes of her pen...
Originally published in the Oklahoman Americans need to get in the battlefield against the “Islamic” State in Iraq and Syria, better known as ISIS. By no means is this a call to arms, however. Rather, it’s a call to fight against the ideology of fear and hatred that this so-called “Islamic” group promotes. This is a fight that can’t be won by simple denunciation of this terrorist organization...
Originally published in the Huffington Post Some 15 hours into my fast in the blistering Virginia heat my head hurt–but it wasn’t a symptom of Ramadan. Rather, I found myself digesting The Times columnist David Aaronovitch’s latest piece, “Moderate Muslims — it’s time to be outraged.” Aaronovitch argues that, “there is no Islamic peace movement...
Originally published in the Daily Times Israel emerged on the world map as an independent nation in the late 1940s. Over the last 65 years of its existence, the nation has faced significant challenges. One thing that has remained constant, however, is the state’s treatment of its Muslim citizens. There are over a million Muslims in Israel. The orthodox rabbis have been intimidating them...
Originally published in Time Islam places immense emphasis on privacy in ways that Western governments today have only begun to match with privacy laws. Whether it’s a legal scholar or a 7-year-old child that’s bullied on the playground, it’s hard to argue with this Harvard Law Review definition of privacy from 1890: “The right to be left alone.” Add to this simple concept a detailed U.S...
Originally published in Santa Barbara Independent I woke up at 3:50 a.m. today. I did some prayers, ate a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats, and did some prayers again. I will not eat any food or water until sunset around 8:20 p.m. Muslims around the world — about 1.3 billion people — are following a similar routine for 30 days for the month of Ramadan. There is a cool serenity at 3:50 a.m. that...
Originally published in Journal Sentinel Two terms used in the media today in conjunction with each other are ISIS and “Caliphate.” The former is the acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, an extremist militant group waging a territorial war in that region; the latter is a divinely guided spiritual leadership from the perspective of Islam. These two things cannot possibly...
Originally published in The Santa Clarita Valley Signal As a Muslim-immigrant to the United States of America, I find special meaning in the Fourth of July, an occasion symbolizing the struggle for freedom. As testimony to our nation’s commitment to freedom, I often reflect upon how Americans have upheld freedoms for Muslims in the aftermath of 9-11 — despite the negative stereotypes. Such...
Originally published in The Huffington Post We have all heard of Sudan’s death penalty for the “crime” of leaving Islam. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan (since 2007), Yemen and Afghanistan have similar rulings for apostasy. Do these punishments have any basis in the Islamic faith? Does Islam really punish freedom of conscience? I was discussing this on social media when a friend...
Originally published in OnFaith Since the militant group known as ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) declared that the “caliphate has been re-established” in an area straddling the two countries, I’ve been inundated with emails, tweets, and texts asking for my opinion and explanation. I expected this, as in the past few months I’ve written and been interviewed numerous times on His...