Ahmadiyya Times | Staff NewsNovember 11, 2009
Last month at the reopening ceremony of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, California, Imam Shamshad Nasir was recounting the services offered by the Ahmadiyya Muslims to the surrounding communities and to the nation at large. At one point he proudly asserted that ‘our sons and daughters are serving our nation in the Armed Forces’.
This statement was meant to be stained two weeks later at the hands of a mad man whom the Imam had never met or known. One cannot, but feel for Imam Shamshad.
Major Nidal Malik Hassan of Fort Hood, Texas tainted all that Imam Shamshad had said with pride about service to the mankind as directed by the God of Islam.
On one terrible day, Major Hassan mercilessly killed and injured scores of fellow soldiers for reasons only he can explain once he gets out of the medical facility where his fellow soldiers are helping him breath and tending to his all needs – just as they would attend to any other sick person- irrespective of the fact that Major Hassan probably would have killed them too during his moment of rage. One cannot, but feel for those soldiers at the medical facility.
Muslims are – once again - feeling the backlash, especially in the Armed Forces. In the aftermath of the tragedy at Fort Hood, everyone, from all sides of the issue, is psychoanalyzing how things are for the Muslims in our Armed Forces.
In one such effort, a Muslim soldier, Bashir Ahmad, a former medic in the National Guard was interviewed by Michel Martin, host of the program, “Tell Me More” of National Public Radio.
When asked for the final thoughts by the host, Michel Martin, Bashir Ahmad Said: “…I know, with myself, … being in the military is one of the proudest things that, you know, I've ever done.” Imam Shamshad will be happy to note that.
Bashir Ahmad happens to be an Ahmadi Muslim – the sect of Islam that Imam Shamshad leads at Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, California.
The contents below are credited to the National Public Radio.
For Muslims, Military Service Sometimes Met With Hostility | NPR
November 9, 2009
There are still unanswered questions following the recent shooting spree at the Ft. Hood Army post in Texas, where Maj. Nidal Hasan allegedly opened fire. The tragedy left 12 dead and dozens injured. Hasan's Muslim faith and personal accounts from those who interacted with him place on a spotlight on Muslims serving in the U.S. Military — both their experiences and how they are perceived. Bashir Ahmad, a former a medic in the National Guard, and Haytham Faraj, a criminal defense attorney and former Marinek, discuss instances of openness and hostility for Muslims in Military. sometimes a retired senior defense counsel at Camp Pendelton in California and is currently a criminal defense attorney who focuses on military law.
Read more: For Muslims, Military Service Sometimes Met With Hostility : NPR
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