Originally Published in Beliefnet on February 26th, 2018 As a resident of central Ohio, I am saddened by the loss of our fellow Westerville Police officers who were killed in a line of duty recently. I am also saddened of the seventeen victims of the Parkland shooting. In both situations I commend our fellow officers putting themselves in harm’s way to protect civilians in need. These two...
Originally Published in MyRecordJournal on February 21st , 2018 Recently, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the oldest Muslim Organization in the United States, held its 8th annual “Day on the Hill,” during which over 100 delegates from across 75 chapters in the country visited their local representatives. This event was held to help eliminate any misconceptions, while also raising awareness...
Originally Published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on February 13th, 2018 As an American Ahmadi Muslim, I would like to encourage our fellow citizens to reflect on the importance of Black History Month. It is worth acknowledging and celebrating shared values regardless of our race, religion, or background. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once famously stated, “I look to the day when people will...
Originally Published in the Columbus Dispatch on February 14th, 2018 Islam puts a lot of emphasis on the love between a husband and a wife. They are supposed to be best friends who not only help support each other become better people but also cover the faults of one another. In fact, the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “The best among you are those who are best to their wives.” As a...
Originally Published in the Huffington Post on December 6th, 2017 Victims hid under dead bodies, attackers ambushed ambulances, and over 305 people were killed. Nearly forty gunmen unleashed a vicious attack upon the al-Rawda mosque, utilizing multiple bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, and strategic ambush locations against first responders. The victims were Muslims, coming to the mosque for...
Originally Published in The Middletown Press on February 6th, 2018 As an Ahmadiyya Muslim, I joined Muslims the world over recently in observing a special prayer called Khusoof as a rare phenomenon occurred in the heavens. A lunar eclipse took place. It was also a super blue blood moon, which is when the moon is closest to the Earth, the brightest, the second full moon of the month, and when it...
Originally Published in Arkansas Democrat Gazette on February 10th, 2018 by Hameed Naseem It is widely believed in the West that Islam stands in opposition to women’s rights. However, even a cursory study of the Holy Quran leaves a strong impression that Islam treats women just the same as men, with love and respect, grants them equal rights and places a very high expectation on both in...
Originally Published in Canton Repository on January 6th, 2018 Imagine your local hospital has been destroyed, your father and sister killed, and your home is in rubble. Would you not hate the cause of this whirlwind of tragedy? This is exactly what will happen in Yemen. The Dec. 26 Saudi airstrike in Yemen that killed 68 civilians is another testament to the severity of this war’s effect on...
Originally Published in Medium on January 15th, 2018 by Faris Hayee Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister. He was the leader of the non-violent civil rights movement aimed to end segregation and discrimination. It all started in March of 1955, when fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white man as required by Jim Crow Laws at that time. Nine Months...
Originally Published in The Roanoke Times on January 22nd, 2018 by Faran Jalil In an era in which race relations continue to be a household topic, as an Ahmadi Muslim I encourage my fellow citizens to reflect on the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is worth acknowledging and celebrating our shared values regardless of our race, religion or background. King famously stated, “I...