While I watched the horrid news of bomb explosions in Manhattan and New Jersey, as a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I feared the worst and prayed for the affected. To my utter dismay, the suspect was identified as Ahmad Khan Rahami, a U.S. citizen of Afghan descent, moreover a Muslim.

Although his motive remains unclear, he may have committed this act as a retaliation to anti-Muslim harassment. However, the Holy Quran disapproves of this in chapter 5: “… and let not the enmity of a people incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness” (5:9).

Let’s rid this society of the dangers of hate, extremism and paranoia. As Muslims who care about this country, we invite people to join us for a weekly “Coffee, Cake & True Islam” initiative, an open house invitation to our local Al-Nur Mosque, 747 South Ave., Wilkinsburg, starting Tuesday, Sept. 27 (and every Tuesday) from 7 to 8 p.m., for an informal discussion about religion or other topics.

The healing process starts right here!

NAYYAR AHMED
Emsworth

The writer is a member of the Muslim Writers Guild of America.