This first appeared on Patheos. 

Time and again, the same illogical claims about Islam keep popping up from various people, whether they are pundits, commenters, or self-styled "experts" on Islam: Islam is "violent," it calls for the "killing of all non-Muslims," Muslims "must hate all non-… Read full post »

This first appeared on Beliefnet. 

I first learned about the law – that passed the Kuwaiti parliament – on a ChicagoNow blog post entitled “Kuwait theocracy declares Islam is weak.” The law calls for the death penalty for insulting the Prop/… Read full post »

My wife and daughters really like the song by the band "The Wanted" called "Glad You Came." When I hear the song, it makes me think of all the wonderful people that I have been blessed with in my life:

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and/

… Read full post »

In the days since it was reported that the CIA disrupted a bomb plot targeting the United States, it has been revealed that the would-be suicide bomber was actually a double agent:

The latest al-Qaida bomb plot targeting U.S. aircraft was unraveled from inside the terrorist group by operatives &mdash

… Read full post »

This was published on Patheos. 

Last month, South Dakota passed a law that seeks to prevent the enforcement of "any religious code." The very brief bill stated simply: "No court, administrative agency, or other governmental agency may enforce any provisions of any religious code."/… Read full post »

This was the sermon I gave in Friday prayer services today:

In the seventh verse of the eighteenth chapter of the Quran, it states:

Behold, We have willed that all beauty on earth be a means by which we put humanity to a test, [showing] which of them are best in

… Read full post »

As a Muslim, Easter Sunday is just like any other Sunday. Indeed, I am not working on this Easter, but that is due to happenstance rather than religious devotion. In fact, I hope to catch some of the Masters golf action on Sunday. Yet, I know that, at the very same… Read full post »

http://www.patheos.com/Muslim/Respect-the-Hoodie-but-Dont-Forget-the-Headscarf-Hesham-Hassaballa-04-03-2012.html

It is quite easy to get overwhelmed by your personal predicaments and problems, whether on an individual or communal basis. As a Muslim community, there are almost daily reports of attacks… Read full post »

http://www.chicagonow.com/midwestern-muslim/2012/03/a-teachable-moment/

The horrific murders of innocent Afghan villagers by a US soldier this past weekend has prompted the rightful condemnation of officials and leaders, including our own President who said the killings were "outr/… Read full post »

One of the most popular songs by the American band, The Fray, is "How to save a life." According to lead singer Isaac Slade, he wrote it in response to his difficulty reaching a troubled teen. When I first heard it, I thought it was about the difficulty between two people… Read full post »

In our day and age, many are trying to “be different.” Whether in a singing competition, or anywhere else, many people value being different. Indeed, diversity is very important, and it is – in fact – a miracle of God according to the Qur’an:

And among His miracles is th

… Read full post »

This was published on my Patheos Column, "An American Islam."  

 President Obama aims to live by the Christian principle that a person who is blessed with much must give back to the community. That seems to be the underlying sentiment of his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfas… Read full post »

This was published on altmuslim. 

The ultimate fate of Saudi blogger, poet and writer Hamza Kashgari is still unknown. The 23-year-old, who formerly worked for the Saudi Arabia newspaper Al Bilad, recently tweeted some critical comments about the Prophet Muhammad (saw),/… Read full post »

It seems that former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s presidential run is running out of steam. According to the Huffington Post, Santorum is “taking a pause from Florida campaigning just days before the Tuesday primary that even he expects to deal him a third consecutive loss.&r/… Read full post »

This was published in the Washington Post's "On Faith" blog.

I was walking through my hospital one recent morning, and I looked out the window and beheld the American flag billowing in the breeze. It was truly beautiful, stirring my heart with love of country. When I see that flag, waving so… Read full post »

This was published in my Patheos column.  

The 2012 election year has finally come, and as already seen in Iowa, the presidential campaign is in full swing. On the Democratic side, there is no contest (but lots of concerns). But the Republican primary process has already given us a chilling… Read full post »

I am no fan of the Taliban. I hate their barbaric distortion of Islam and their barbaric practices and tactics. They are as much my enemy as they are the enemy of the Afghan people. Also, I – like most Americans – grow weary of the war in Afghanistan, and I… Read full post »

This was published in Inside Islam: Dialogues and Debates.  

“So, you are going to become a doctor, right?” This question, I am quite certain, has been asked of scores of Muslim children by their parents all across this world. Does Islam, somehow, motivate Muslims to become phys… Read full post »

The song "Without You," by David Guetta and featuring Usher is truly moving and inspirational. It is probably about a lover talking about his beloved, but what makes great art (and song) is its transcendent nature. If a song can be extrapolated to many instances, it is truly great. Such is… Read full post »