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4 reasons why Ramadan is a great time to talk to a Muslim

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Originally published in the New Haven Register   Have you ever passed by a Muslim woman with a headscarf and wanted to ask her what motivates her to live out her faith?     Have you ever thought to strike up a conversation with a Muslim colleague over his views on Muslim extremists in the news?     But were you too afraid to ask? Or maybe the moment wasn’t right.  ...

ISIS antithetical to Islam’s notion of peace and governance

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Originally published in Journal Sentinel Two terms used in the media today in conjunction with each other are ISIS and “Caliphate.” The former is the acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, an extremist militant group waging a territorial war in that region; the latter is a divinely guided spiritual leadership from the perspective of Islam. These two things cannot possibly...

In service to our fellow Americans

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Originally published in Shreve Port Times Unfortunately, Islam is a misunderstood religion. As a practicing Muslim living in America, I feel it is my responsibility to clear these misconceptions. To do so, I have dedicated my life to serve God and mankind. I recently moved here to serve as the Imam (a title for a Muslim religious minister) for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of New Orleans Greater...

10 ways to become closer to God

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Originally published in The Daily Bulletin Dear readers: here are 10 ways you can become closer to God. These were written 125 years ago by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the messiah and mahdi … 1. Do not associate partners with God. This means believing that God is singularly one, the only supreme being and sole creator of the universe. 2. Abstain from...

New Imam called to serve Oshkosh mosque

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Originally published in The Northwestern I am the new Imam for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Mosque located on N. Eagle Street in Oshkosh. I have been appointed here by the Khalifa of Islam, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, in order to serve this beautiful city and its people, to build relationships and to be a trustworthy source about Islam. Service to humanity is a hallmark of our...

Why Is It So Easy To Arrest a Person For Blasphemy In Pakistan?

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Originally published in Foreign Policy On May 13, 2014, police in the province of Punjab announced that they had registered a complaint of blasphemy against sixty-eight lawyers who had been involved in a protest against a police officer. The protest started after a senior officer allegedly detained and beat one of the lawyer’s colleagues. During the protests, the lawyers had called out the...

Islam’s Way to End Violence Against Women? Civilized Men

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Originally published in The Huffington Post “She made me do it.” I hear this phrase all too often, and each time I hear it my heart bleeds. In my pro bono legal practice, I represent indigent women who suffer or have suffered through domestic violence. As an attorney, as a Muslim, as a husband, and as an uncle to five beautiful nieces, I see my clients as individuals that could just...

How Pakistan’s Organization of Religious Clergy Continues to Promote Religious Bigotry

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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...

Letter to a real martyr: #Justice4Mehdi

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Originally published in Fox News Dear Mehdi, Greetings of peace! You’ve been all over the place: CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal,Washington Post, Reuters… Up until a week ago, most Americans didn’t know you. But now, for millions, you are a celebrity. Because the media is telling your story… How you hail from this tiny hamlet called Rabwah, out in the boondocks of...