Reflections on Orlando

~ Yasmin

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well!

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I want to start this post off by saying that my heart truly goes out to all the victims and  families of the senseless and completely inhumane act of terror that occurred in Orlando, Florida. From the bottom of my heart I hope that those that have passed away rest in peace and I wish a speedy recovery for those that have been injured.

Yesterday, once again, my heart broke when I woke up and read the news of yet another tragic mass shooting right here in the United States.

I was later further shocked to learn that the suspect was an American with Afghan parents. As some of you may know I am also an American whose parents were born in Afghanistan. So this definitely hit me hard to know that someone from my own cultural group would do something so disgusting and inhumane.

The wide majority of Afghan immigrants came to this beautiful country to flee the violence of their own war torn nation so I would have never imagined that anyone within this community would ever even think of inflicting such pain and suffering on others. I guess like they say there are black sheep within each community.

It brings me great sadness to know that because of the actions of this one inhumane individual there are others who will put the blame on Muslims and the religion of Islam. As a Muslim I know for a fact that these are not the teachings of Islam.

The Islam that I know and love has taught me that taking one life is the same as killing all of humanity and saving one life is as if you have saved all of humanity. Here is the exact verse from the Holy Quran:

“…if any one killed a person, it would be as if he killed the whole of mankind; and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of mankind…” – The Holy Quran (Chapter Five, Verse 32).

Just last week the United States and the entire world was celebrating the life of “The Greatest of All Time” Muhammad Ali who was a proud American Muslim and now some of those people are blaming Muslims and Islam for this recent heinous act.

As The Champ himself eloquently stated: “The word ‘Islam’ means ‘peace.’ The word ‘Muslim’ means ‘one who surrenders to God.’ But the press makes us seem like haters. ”

I sincerely hope that throughout these difficult and trying times we all stay united in our fight against extremism and that we always remember that the actions of one person or a few people are not representative of an entire religious community.

With Love,

Yasmin

 

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29 thoughts on “Reflections on Orlando”

  1. It certainly does make non-Muslims fear for their lives when we see such murder take place. I do hope that the radicalized terrorists are not representative and that most Muslims truly are peaceful. The US should be a place of love, not hate.

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  2. Thank you so much for commenting! I truly do understand where you are coming from but I would just like to kindly point out that there are roughly 1.7 billion Muslims out there and it’s just not logical to paint all of them with the same brush. I definitely agree with you that the US should be a place of love and not hate!

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  3. Yasmin, just know that the majority of intelligent and sensible people don’t buy into the islamophobia and hate spread by rednecks, any more than we think the Westboro Baptists are representative of all Christians.

    I hope that you don’t experience any negativity (though I know it’s unlikely).
    Xxx

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  5. Well written Yasmin, being a Muslim myself I couldn’t have put it any better. It makes me really sad as we were literally in Orlando only a couple of days before the shooting took place, I think I am beyond disgusted as there are individuals still largely out there who goes on a shooting rampage and claim they are doing it in the name of Islam it makes me sick! My deepest sympathy goes to all the families who have lost their loved ones and a speedy recovery to those injured.
    Anna

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  6. Thank you Anna for your kind words! I totally agree with you that it is truly so disgusting that someone would commit such a horrible act in the name of a religion whose name basically means peace!
    And but the way I was thinking about you and your beautiful family because I knew you were somewhere in Florida but I am glad to know that you guys are safe 🙂

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  7. It’s unfortunate that we are still in a place where the act of a few blindsides the good of the whole, its sad that the sane majority has to defend themselves overtime a few decide to act a fool. Beautiful post, very well said.

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  8. Thank you so much for commenting and for your kind words!!! I totally agree with you! I believe in the kind-heartedness of the American people and although things are tough now I am hopeful for a brighter future!

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    1. I am honored that you have chosen to reblog this and thank you for sharing this post with your readers! I cannot even begin to imagine the emotions you must have gone through that night as a health employee! Despite going through such shock I admire you for standing for the truth and refusing to blame an entire religious community for the inhumane action of one individual!

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  10. This post is great! I’m happy to see people dispelling rumors, especially considering the fact that the man did this out of revenge of an ex lover who gave him HIV, using Islam as a mask to hide behind. One day people will see that this is not the truth of Islam.

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  12. Morning Yasmin,

    It is an honor for me to have come upon your blog home, such a beautiful, welcoming site! And thank you for this post, for it is a read like yours that is the magic of the light that showers us in love.

    Peace be onto you,
    Claudia

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  14. All my deep respect and solidarity to Afghan people. I do not know much about Islam, but certainly I have been told many bad things and,. eventually, felt some doubts. Around me, my LGBTQ peers use to say that your faith does not accept us, and even worse, hates us and wants us terminated. Is this true?… Is there anything in you holy scripts against us? I wish I could have your honest opinion as an acknowledgeable friend, for my own benefit and, most important, to be able to discuss with friends when this supposed hatred and malevolence to homosexuality and transsexuality by Islamic communities is commented. Some of us here (I included) have been insulted and mocked at a few times by persons of Islamic creed (mainly from Morocco). On the other hand, I have a couple of acquaintances from Pakistan who are absolutely kind and good-hearted toward me (but I must say that they are not very attached to religion).
    Just understand my comment and questions, please. My life is not especially happy and easy, and it matters much to me to understand why others -with equally tough lives- feel like calling me very offensive things, and saying I will rot in hell for being like I am -and like my sister was as well-.
    Hugs and best regards, Yasmin ❤ ✨ !

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    1. Thank you so much for commenting and for trusting my opinion. I know that you’re going through an especially tough time snd I wanted to let you know that you and you’re people are definitely in my prayers. In all honesty yes homosexuality is considered a sin in Islam however, as you know homosexuality is also looked down upon in the scriptures of the other two monotheistic religions as well. I am so sorry that ignorant Muslims have harassed you in the past. Although homosexuality is a sin we as Muslims certainly do not have the right to harm or kill anyone because of their sexuality. One of the verses of the Holy Qur’an that I have been taught (5:32) states that anyone who kills one person it is as if they have killed the whole of humanity and if anyone saves the life of one person it is as if they have saved all of humanity. So I can say for sure that although Islam considers homosexuality a sin it certainly does not call for the termination of such people. Homosexuality is a sin in Islam however, it is something between G

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      1. Thanks heartily for your frank response, Yasmin ! I appreciate it much, but also I’ve felt some thrills… May I ask you if you consider that I am a sinner? (Not so much for beig homosexual, which I am not, since I feel and look and behave (and am) as a woman who dates men, but for living according to my feelings).
        You are right about Judaism and Christianity as homophobic/transphobic creeds as well, but most Jews and Christians I know do not think bad of me and entirely respect me.
        I intuite you do too, beyond your religious faith. I just hope this is true. I just hope as well you have not though very bad of me when reading some of my posts, openly weird, randy and, maybe even slutty, for a Muslim person.
        Said so, I just can send all my love and best wishes to you, if you accept them 🙂

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      2. Honestly I think very highly of you and I have a lot of love and respect for you regardless of any factor! You have every right to live according to your feelings! To be completely honest I am a religious and spiritual person however, I never judge anyone else because I feel that everyone should have the freedom to live their life according to their wishes as long as they’re not harming anyone else. Sending you lots of hugs 🤗

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  15. Sorry I meant it is something between God and the individual. I don’t know if you believe in God or not but I have been taught that God is the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate and He will tear all good human beings with love and compassion and he wants us to treat each other with respect, love and compassion as well.

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  16. Yes. I do believe in a god or goddess (or both things) to whom we are all bound to – and which is already part of us also. I’m an animist and a pantheist (to me, god is everywhere; pervades all Universe; is the same for all of us, and certainly has made me a trans-person with entire freedom and permission to love whoever I feel like loving :).

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