Scenes from an American Muslim Debate Watch Party

September 28, 2016 By Dilshad Ali

By Zainab Chaudry Monday night’s presidential debate – the first ahead of the 2016 election – is officially on record as the most-watched debate in U.S. history. This isn’t really news to most of us – the stakes are higher now than ever, and concerned Americans are paying attention. Monday evening, millions of viewers braced for a contentious 90 minute standoff. Neither candidate disappointed – exchanging zingers on topics ranging from birtherism to stamina. Like most Americans, Muslims were also transfixed to television, computer... Read more

On Noor Tagouri and Playboy – Standing Up to Cyberbullying

September 26, 2016 By Dilshad Ali

Embed from Getty Images By Zainab Chaudry In case you missed it, a Muslim woman who wears hijab was photographed for Playboy magazine. And — not unexpectedly — the Muslim Internet imploded. Aspiring journalist Noor Tagouri accepted an invitation to be featured in the magazine’s October “Renegades” issue. Clad in jeans, sneakers, a jacket and her hijab, the 22-year-old social media personality candidly opens up about her goals, accomplishments and struggles. In and of itself, the article is a powerful testimony... Read more

Marking 15 Years Since 9/11 as an American Muslim

September 11, 2016 By Dilshad Ali

By Zainab Chaudry Some moments of our lives are permanently etched in our mind. A marriage proposal. Walking across the stage at graduation. The birth or death of loved one. Similarly, most Americans will never forget where we were or what we were doing that moment when we learned news of the tragic 9/11 terror attacks fifteen years ago today. I was in class – first semester of my first year of pharmacy school – when the professor abruptly announced class was... Read more

Ring the Bell In Honor of Black History Month and the Struggles of So Many

February 29, 2016 By Dilshad Ali

By Zainab Chaudry Church bells call people to faith. They send people to do good in the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who prayed in our church, said that freedom rings. A silent bell represents the unfinished work of freedom and equality. – Rev. Reginald F. Davis, First Baptist Church, Williamsburg, Va. Recently in February, I had the opportunity to travel 159 miles to Colonial Williamsburg to take part in the #LetFreedomRingChallenge at one of the oldest black churches in... Read more

A Renewed Commitment to Religious Pluralism: Initial Reflections on President Obama’s Mosque Visit

February 4, 2016 By Dilshad Ali

Good news travels fast, and this time, it’s generated quite the buzz in cities across America — particularly in Baltimore, Maryland. Last Saturday, the White House revealed that President Barack Obama will visit the Islamic Society of Baltimore this week. That visit happened today. He has visited mosques in other countries before, but this will be his first time visiting a U.S. mosque since he took office seven years ago. While mosque leaders and White House staff coordinate logistics, this... Read more

Dr. King’s Legacy: Fulfilling The Pledge of A ‘Promised Land’

January 18, 2016 By Zainab Chaudry

“I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – arguably one of the greatest orators our nation has ever produced – stood in... Read more

In These Times of Strife, Emulate the Prophet Muhammad

December 27, 2015 By Dilshad Ali

By Zainab Chaudry Being a Muslim activist can easily harden your heart. The constant pressures and challenges – they wear a person down if you’re not careful.I can digest the personal attacks against me though. Using the block and delete functions and having supportive family and friends helps.What’s hard to process are the attacks on our beloved Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa’alayhi wasalam. May Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon him and his family.When people say or post terrible things about him, I tell... Read more

Governor Hogan, Let Syrian Refugees In To Maryland

November 18, 2015 By Zainab Chaudry

The refugee resettlement debate has grown more heated and contentious in the wake of last week’s horrific Paris terror attacks. On Tuesday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) joined governors across the country and announced amid heightened security concerns that he is asking the U.S. government to stop settling Syrian refugees in Maryland until it can provide assurances that they pose no threat to public safety. The public outcry in reaction to this announcement has been swift and loud. Since the 9/11 terror attacks, according to the Migration Policy Institute, some 800,000 refugees... Read more

Americans Must Break Silence on Islamophobia to Preserve Constitutional Freedoms

October 28, 2015 By Zainab Chaudry

One afternoon last week, while checking email during an Uber ride in Washington, D.C., a message caught my attention. Exclamation points dominated the subject line. I mentally braced myself before opening the message. The email began: “In case you missed it, I want to bring this article to your attention…” The article in question was a disturbing editorial written by Republican County Commissioner Richard Rothschild for the Carroll County Times. The headline – “Carson Right About Islam, Presidency” – referred to irresponsible, Islamophobic comments... Read more