Originally published in The NorthWestern If you look at the headlines of any newspaper today, you will notice at least one of them being about Russia. President Putin – current Russian incumbent – has become the center of western vilification because of his approval and decision to allow for the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine into Russia without any legal recourse. But no one, neither from the...
Originally published in New York Daily News Jamaica Hills: I am an 11-year-old American Ahmadi Muslim. My parents are from Bangladesh, and I am in sixth grade. It has been quite an experience growing up in post-9/11 America with my background. In the fifth grade, every time the topics Islam, Muslims, 9/11 or the World Trade Center were brought up, everyone, including the teacher, would stare at...
Originally published in The Times Herald What is the best way to achieve world peace? With President Obama’s inaugural ceremony just taken place, scholars will propose what the president should do, indirectly answering the question above. As a Muslim-American, I want to first congratulate the president on his re-election and pray that he will lead the nation effectively during his second term. I...
Originally Published in the Herald-Mail Media When jazz master and Grammy award-winning musician Yusef Lateef left this world on Dec. 23, the music world lost one of its greatest giants. That same day, however, the world of Islam also lost one of its greatest giants. His name was also Yusef Lateef, and he was the man behind the music. The man who, for the last 30 years, chose not to perform at...
Originally Published in the Times of Trenton Islam and Christianity seem to be completely different. During Christmastime, as a Muslim-American, I think these differences seem to stand out. Islam states that Jesus is not the son of god, while Christianity would clearly disagree. Islam does not recognize Christmas to be the birth of Jesus Christ, while Christianity would clearly disagree. Islam...
Originally Published in The Delco Times As I walk through the mall during this time of the year, I see people with numerous bags in their hands, rushing from store to store desperate to find those last minute deals. My email is overflowing with advertisements of items I will probably never buy. As an American Muslim, I wonder if the true spirit of Christmas has been drowned out by all this focus...
Originally Published in The State Journal-Register As an Ahmadi Muslim, I condemn the bus bombing near Tel Aviv last Sunday. Islam categorically rejects violence and the taking of innocent lives. The Quran states, “… if any one killed an innocent person … it would be as if he killed all of mankind.” Furthermore, there is no place for vigilante justice in Islam...
Originally Published in The Telegraph As an Ahmadi Muslim, I revere and love Jesus just as my Christian brothers and sisters do. This is because the Quran states, “Oh Mary, God gives thee glad tidings of a word from him; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honored in this world and in the next and of those who are granted nearness to God. (3:46). ...
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 Duluth News Tribune Over Thanksgiving dinner a friend asked me a usual question: “What are you thankful for today?” My answer was rather unusual: “I am thankful to live in the most Islamic country of the world.” With a stunned face, my friend instantly reacted, “America, the most Islamic country!?” To alleviate his astonishment I tried to...