Originally published in Patheos My dear son, Assalaamo Alaikum With all that’s going on, it’s time for a father-son talk. A lot of people are saying Muslims are bad. I want you to know you’ve done nothing wrong and have no reason to be ashamed. You see, sometimes we adults forget what it’s like to be a child. Mark Twain once wrote “Nothing that troubles us can be called little. A child’s loss...
Originally posted on APP Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released a statement on Monday calling for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the U.S. until “our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” Trump’s campaign slogan is “Make America great again!” I wonder if he truly understands what makes America great? It is our Constitution, rooted...
Originally published on the Statesman As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I emigrated to the United States fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan. I am blessed and thankful for the freedom and liberties which the U.S. provides to me. Therefore, I find Gov. Abbott’s refusal to accept any Syrian refugees morally wrong and against the American values of fairness, justice and compassion...
Originally published in Patheos Never before in the history of mankind has the world witnessed such a mass migration of refugees. They come seeking shelter and safe haven from the barbaric onslaught of ISIS and President Assad’s regime. As the world watches in horror the untold sufferings of thousands of refugees in the Middle East and Europe (Hungary and Greece) on TV, one cannot help but...
Originally published in Worcester Telegram The Syrian crisis is worsening. With around 4 million Syrian refugees and 8 million internally displaced, our fellow human beings are in need of dire support. More than 100,000 Syrian civilians have lost their lives during this crisis. The recent heart-wrenching picture of toddler Aylan Kurdi has come to symbolize this great loss. Syrian refugees...
Originally published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer In the auditorium of Summa Akron City Hospital, amongst dozens of intelligent and aspiring first-year pharmacy and medical students, I pondered the words of Dr. Joseph Zarconi. I was stuck on the significance of the color white as we discussed the responsibilities of the white coat we would now finally be granted after admission into the...