7/13/06, Letter to the Editor, printed in the Galveston County Daily News (Texas)

(Printed in Galveston County Daily News, July 13, 2006, in response to news article, “Letter about Islam sparked worthwhile debate”)

Dear Editor:

As an American Ahmadi Muslim, I applaud the author for noting a valuable point about religion.  Ignorance will only lead us to believe and act wrongfully on what we hear, rather than discovering solutions for ourselves.

Are there verses in the Holy Qur'an that can be misconstrued to promote violence?  Yes; however, look at how the Qur'an begins.  Chapter 2:1 states, "This is a perfect book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous..."  Clearly, unless righteousness is used as the guidance to understand the Qur'an, any twisted mind will find ways to inculcate his own vain desires.  Conversely, once a sense of purity and goodness is used, one will find that this indeed is a perfect book which contains no doubt.

Several of my closest friends are faithful and practicing Christians.  They do not get drunk, nor fornicate, nor curse or swear.  I love and respect Christians because I have sought out and seen real life examples of the goodness within them.  Rather than simply listening to the media, if non-Muslim Americans seek out Muslims with an open heart, I believe they will experience the same joy I have experienced with my Christian brothers.

Sincerely,

Qasim Rashid