Originally published in the Express Tribune Religious clerics in Pakistan celebrate September 7th as a day of victory for Islam and Pakistan. Officially dubbed the “Khatme Nubuwwat Day” or “Finality of Prophethood Day,” many mosques come alive with celebrations this day, sweets are distributed and intense speeches are made in large religious gatherings. Forty years ago this day, Pakistan passed...
Originally published in The Huffington Post Pakistan’s supreme organization of religious clergy, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), recently held a national conference titled, “Why dialogue between various sects and religions is essential.” The Council’s central Chairman, Mr. Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, presided over this well-attended conference in Islamabad, Pakistan. The...
Originally published in The Santa Clarita Valley Signal The United States government recently launched the Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus chaired by veteran Republican Congressman Frank Wolf. The caucus will strive to secure religious freedom for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which suffers from severe persecution in some Muslim countries. Ahmadi Muslims number around 20,000 in America and tens of...
Originally published in The Cap Times Progress is marvelous, especially when it is in regard to extending basic human rights such as religious freedom and tolerance for all. On Feb. 28 the Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus was launched with the purpose of fighting religious persecution of not only Ahmadi Muslims, but people around the world. The bipartisan leadership of Virginia Republican Frank Wolf and...
Originally published in Enjoy Ohio Now that it is Black History Month, we cannot forget about the cruel racism and slavery that had resided in our world once. As a Muslim American, I find interesting Islam’s teachings in relation to racial equality. The Holy Prophet of Islam once stated that “a white has no superiority over a black, just as a black has no superiority over a white.” From our...
Originally Published in the Akron Beacon Journal We should all join Pope Francis in his prayers for the nuns in Syria who were kidnapped by rebel troops. It is claimed that these nuns were taken for safety, but this is very unlikely, as minorities such as Christians throughout the two-and-a-half-year war have been caught in this huge mess, and many of their...
Originally published in the New York Daily News A recent crisis highlights the distance between so-called “Islamic” extremists and the true teachings of Muhammed. In the Charter of Privileges granted to Christians under Muhammed’s leadership, it is clearly stated, “Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.” Despite this clear injunction, 12...
Originally published in the Akron Beacon Journal We should all join Pope Francis in his prayers for the nuns in Syria who were kidnapped by rebel troops. It is claimed that these nuns were taken for safety, but this is very unlikely, as minorities such as Christians throughout the two-and-a-half-year war have been caught in this huge mess, and many of their towns and places of worship have been...
Originally published in The Daily Herald Just last week, some of my Christian and Muslim friends got together to feed the homeless at a neighboring church. This incredible feeling reminded me of how lucky we are to live in a country that believes in religious freedom and security. I wish this was the case in Pakistan, where I was born and raised, but it isn’t. In 1974, Pakistan passed its...