Originally published in the Orange County Register Most people are often surprised to hear that Jesus is a highly esteemed figure in Islam. My friend once asked, “Is this a new idea within Islam?” thinking that, perhaps, Muslims recently concocted this notion. In reality, Jesus is not only considered a prophet in Islam (a fact many Christians are familiar with). In fact, Jesus is...
Originally Published in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel One of my favorite lines from Edwin Starr’s 1970 song “War” is “War, huh, yeah. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” It resonated with the people of the time because no war is ever a good war and it is not good for anyone who experiences it. Recently, I have been hearing a lot of buzz that there is...
Originally published in the Orange Country Register In Judaism, the Torah shares the mitzvah of bikkurim, which emphasizes the importance of giving thanks. The New Testament shares instances of Jesus Christ thanking God for His providence. And the Prophet Muhammad taught us that one who is not grateful to man cannot be grateful to God. Similarly, all religions stress the importance of giving...
Originally Published in the Rochester Hills Patch A few days back, a good friend of mine and I were discussing religion like we always do. He being a Christian and I being a Muslim, you could imagine the different debates we get into. The divinity of Christ, salvation through deeds or faith, whether or not religion should play a role in politics. No topic is taboo for...
Originally published in The Huffington Post As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons at the outskirts of Damascus and President Obama mulls a U.S. military response, some theologians hope for an alarming endgame to the 30-month-long Syrian conflict. For these Christians and Muslim, the civil war in Syria is a prelude to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Before you label...
Originally published in Cincinnati Enquirer This Sunday, Christians worldwide will celebrate Easter. Being an Ahmadi Muslim I will not be celebrating Easter. However, this does not mean that I won’t show my love for Jesus Christ. Islam teaches us to respect Christians and their right to celebrate. In fact, Islam teaches us to join them in the love of Jesus Christ. While differences exist, what...