Religion

Overcoming Historical Amnesia: Muslim Contributions to Civilization

Published on Huffington Post (October 22nd, 2013) In his recent article, Sam Harris, a popular critic of Islam, referred to Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education activist, as “the best thing to come out of the Muslim world in 1,000 years.” Hidden in this comment is the idea that Malala’s fellow Muslims are backward and that her…… Continue reading Overcoming Historical Amnesia: Muslim Contributions to Civilization

Work

Huffington Post picture on Rumi-Emerson article

The Huffington Post – Religion made this sweet little picture after the publication of my Rumi-Emerson comparison, which is based on the themes of religious tolerance, love, and “oneness.” Sheila Musaji of The American Muslim also republished the piece. You can read that here. Related articles Rumi and Emerson: A bridge between the West and the…… Continue reading Huffington Post picture on Rumi-Emerson article

Work

Responses to Memorial Day article honoring Muslim veterans

Here are some of the responses to my latest piece for the Huffington Post Religion: Honoring Muslim American Soldiers on Memorial Day. At the moment the article has received over 460 comments. In quickly scanning through them I have broken those comments down into 5 different categories. The responses are wide-ranging, but I think in general…… Continue reading Responses to Memorial Day article honoring Muslim veterans

News

Humanizing and Honoring Muslim American Veterans

By Sakina Al-Amin for Examiner Interfaith activist and contributor to Huffington Post, Craig Considine, sheds light on some of the Muslim Americans who took part in protecting Americas as patriotic citizens and lovers of this nation: Honoring Muslim American Veterans on Memorial Day. In the piece Considine mentions more than three Muslims by name and…… Continue reading Humanizing and Honoring Muslim American Veterans

Outreach · Religion

My challenge to the media: Burn the Quran Day or One Film 9/11?

I pose a challenge to media outlets around the world: Will they continue to focus on sensational stories which only exacerbate tension and hatred between groups, or will they instead provide coverage to events and initiatives which work to build bridges across the divide? I use Pastor Terry Jones’ “Burn the Quran Day” and my…… Continue reading My challenge to the media: Burn the Quran Day or One Film 9/11?

Outreach

Bostonians Will Transcend Fear After Marathon Bombings

Published on Huffington Post Religion (4/25/13) In 2008, I filmed an interview in Boston in which Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, spoke with Noam Chomsky, Professor of Linguistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, about American identity. According to Chomsky: “[America] is a very frightened country … which is kind of…… Continue reading Bostonians Will Transcend Fear After Marathon Bombings

Commentary

America is under threat from radical ignorance, not radical Islam

By Qasim Rashid for Huffington Post Religion Muslims condemned 9/11, we condemned 7/7, we condemned the Fort Hood tragedy, we condemned the underwear bomber, we condemned the Times Square bomber, and now yet again we find ourselves condemning the Boston Bombers on the mere suspicion that they were “motivated by Islam.” And this is why…… Continue reading America is under threat from radical ignorance, not radical Islam

Religion

Akbar the Great’s Legacy and Religious Freedom

Akbar the Great, ruler of most of South Asia in the 16th and early 17th century, rejected bigotry and made unprecedented moves to help non-Muslims feel at peace in his Mughal empire. In reflecting more closely upon his character and conduct, we can see how Akbar’s actions are antithetical to current discrimination and violence against…… Continue reading Akbar the Great’s Legacy and Religious Freedom