Belief

According to the dictionary, belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. To most this is perfectly sufficient, but to me it is far greater. It is not sufficient to merely accept something as being true. Many people can say they are in line with what is “politically correct,” but the difference comes when one wholeheartedly stands up for that belief no matter the political atmosphere, social norms, or status quo.


As we continue into the 21st century, the discord for social equality is a tedious, drawn out one. It has been a long road from the rise of the cotton industry in 1793, to the emancipation in 1863, to the rights of black people to vote in 1965, and to the first black president being elected in 2008. However, we have not yet begun to heal. Racism, bigotry, and prejudice are still alive and rampant. If a man in office does not explicitly disapprove of anti-Semitic rhetoric, neo Nazis, and extremist groups, what progress have we really made holistically as a country?


I grew up in a traditionally Muslim household. My mom wore a hijab so being Muslim was also not a secret. Day in and day out I would hear anti-Muslim rhetoric and propaganda on the news, especially the term “radical Islamic terrorism”. I as well as any learned person would know that not all Muslims are bad or extremists. Rather, the ones displayed on the news were inaccurate representations of the religion I stood up for, a religion by literal definition in Arabic meaning peace. A parable that not many think about is that almost every religious group has their share of extremist groups. So just like there is ISIS, there is also the KKK who follow Christianity and Sicarri who follow Judaism. Yet what needs to be understood is that these groups don’t define the religions, rather they are a small percentage of individuals who misconstrued and misinterpret holy books and prophetic sayings to fulfill personal, economic, political, and power-hungry aspirations.


I first and foremost recognize that all religions are also religions of peace and much more importantly my brothers and sisters. The news and media are only trying to sell a story…and as we know, money talks. No one wants to read about the hardworking, caring, loving, civically involved patriotic Muslim American or the Christian advocates standing in solidarity and aiding Syrian refugees, because granted it would be “boring” in comparison. So then let them not define you and me, rather let us define ourselves by the content of our character.





I believe in social equality, egalitarianism, and justice. A man named Muhammad 1400 years ago said, “a white man is not better than a black man and a black man is not better than a white man – except in piety.” Surely, we as human beings can erase these social boundaries while looking at a person’s heart rather than their color, race, or religion.