Originally Published in The Huffington Post In the wake of the recent Paris attacks, new atheist writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali is screaming out at her loudest again. “Islam needs reform,” she insists. But is she right? We must understand that Muslims are not a monolith. They come in all colors and sects. I, for instance, identify with the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam. The Ahmadiyya Muslim...
Originally Published in Patheos There are millions of Syrian refugees who are longing for a glimmer of hope to breathe freely, to live a respectable life and to be able to give their children a better future than the dismal situation they find themselves in. A single act of insanity like the French attack may jeopardize the chances of millions of legitimate refugees who are searching for a better...
Originally Published in Huffington Post As I left my mosque in Philadelphia Friday afternoon my phone lit up with texts and tweets about attacks in Paris. Muslims have been conditioned on how to respond to these attacks. First, we feel pain for the loss of life. And most certainly my heart sank as I saw the horrific aftermath of the Paris attacks. Then, almost as quickly we hope the attackers...
Originally published in The Cross Timber Gazette On the evening of Friday, November 13th, nearly 130 people were brutally murdered in attacks in six separate sites across Paris, France. ISIS has claimed responsibility and President Francois Hollande has called the attack “an act of war.” The barbaric attack against innocent civilian lives in Paris, France is condemnable and we extend our...
Originally published in The Orange County Register Sadly, this is not the first or last time I write a letter to this paper, condemning another cowardly terrorist attack by a self-proclaimed Muslim organization. But here I am again, back at it. And I can never stop. For to be silent is to be disrespectful not just to the victims and their families, but to the religion of Islam itself. The voice...
Originally posted on The Express Tribune Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarullah Khan was one of the leading founding fathers of Pakistan. You know, the Pakistan Resolution that our national struggle was based on? He drafted it. He was the first foreign minister of Pakistan. He was known for his eloquent representation of Pakistan at the United Nations and is the only Pakistani to have served as the...
Originally published in The News and Observer People from all walks of life, irrespective of their race and political affiliations, partake in holiday activity this season through charitable giving and spending quality time with friends and family. Charitable giving and taking care of loved ones form the basis of both Christian and Islamic teachings. Despite the obvious doctrinal differences...
Originally published in The Charlotte Observer Social and political upheavals dominate the world news today. Innocent lives, property, and wealth are destroyed each year due to social, political, and racial tensions. According to the Bible and the Quran, this vicious cycle of violence in human society can be traced back as far as the time of Adam when Cain murdered his brother, Abel. Since then...
Originally published in The News and Observer In the wake of the despicable terrorist act at the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo and the Kosher supermarket in France, a lot of questions are being asked about the tolerance and peaceful nature of the followers of Islam. Studying the Quran and the prophet Muhammad’s life, however, it becomes abundantly clear that this barbaric act is against the true...
Originally published in Courier Post As a Muslim-American, I welcome Pope Francis to America. Pope Francis’ attitude towards Islam — from praying in the Blue Mosque of Istanbul facing Mecca to his comment, “Authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Quran are opposed to every form of violence” — is refreshing and encouraging. With rising Islamophobia in America and with GOP presidential...