Originally Published in The New Jersey Record. I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to President Obama on his re-election to the White House last night. As part of the larger Muslim-American community, I am hopeful that President Obama’s reelection will serve to bring various sections of our communities even closer. I also hope that the president will continue to uphold the rule of...
Originally Published in The New Jersey Record. Regarding “Ads criticizing Muslim radicals go up in N.Y.C. subways” (Page A-7, Sept. 25): Anti-jihad ads that imply Muslims are “savage” have recently gone up on New York City subways. “Defeat Jihad” and “support the civilized man,” parts of the ad read. The advertisement is the brainchild of Pamela...
Originally Posted on The Huffington Post I was attending a LIVE online conference this morning when a friend’s email instantly brought tears to my eyes. He broke the news of the tragic shooting at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee. I was racked with pain. My first reaction was to pray to God to ease the suffering of those directly affected by the tragedy and then to contact my friends at the Sikh...
Originally Posted on The Huffington Post If you know a Muslim, you are sure to have heard about Ramadan and the tradition of fasting in Islam. Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar. Millions of Muslims across the country and many more across the world will spend the month fasting. Even though it is singular in its details, the practice of fasting as a form of spiritual...
Waqar Hasan was a Pakistani Muslim immigrant who had come to New Jersey to live the American dream. Leaving his family in Milltown, NJ, he went to Dallas, TX, to open a grocery store. Four days after 9/11, a gunman came to his store and shot him in the face. The killer went on to shoot two more Muslims that same week, avenging the 9/11 attacks. 9/11 unleashed the most intense manhunt in American...
Originally Published in The Record The world’s second largest hardware chain, Lowe’s, is ranked among the Top 50 corporations in America. Its website proudly displays the slogan “Let’s Build Something Together.” However, the company’s recent actions suggest that this togetherness might not include Muslim-Americans. The company recently pulled its ads from a...
Originally Appeared on The Huffington Post With the partition of the Indian subcontinent, the Dominion of Pakistan came into existence on Aug. 14, 1947. The valiant and astute Muhammad Ali Jinnah led the minority Muslim community of United India to the fulfillment of its dream for a separate homeland. The basis for the very demand of independence was the upholding of the freedom of religion...