Articles on Islam by Shahid Athar M.D.
President of The Islamic Medical Association of North America.

Islamic Philanthropy: For the love of God
"And be steadfast in your prayer and pay charity; whatever good you send forth for your future, you shall find it with God, for God is well aware of what you do." - Quran 2:110
Shahid Athar M.D.

Personal Reflections on the Iraq War
"Which side do I belong to?” Is it a war against Islam and Muslims by the Christian invaders and their reluctant arm-twisted allies, or is it a war of liberation of the oppressed Iraqi people?"
By Shahid Athar, M.D., March 26, 2003

Sex Education: An Islamic Perspective
"Say: Are they equal those who know, and those who do not know?" (Quran 39:9).
"Blessed are the women of the Helpers. Their modesty did not stand in the way of their seeking knowledge about their religion" (Bukhari and Muslim).
Dr Shahid Athar examines the issues.

Preserving the Faith at the Campus
What happens to he faith of our young people when they leave home to enter a college campus? Do they take faith along with other belongings and necessities of life or, do they leave faith behind at home?
By Shahid Athar, M.D.

Words of Wisdom from Prophet Mohammad
Fifty hadiths selected by Dr. Shahid Athar.

Inside a Friendly Iran
"By lifting sanctions and improving trade relations with Iran, we can influence the democratic process there and win over an old friend once again", argues American physician, Dr. Shahid Athar.

We must love others to be loved by God
"When we close our hearts to others, our eyes are closed to see the beauty of God in them. The message of Islam, Judaism, Christianity and all other religions is one of love and service to others.  If God decides to care and love and feed even those who deny his existence, then who are we to deprive someone else of our love just because he is of different color or speaks a different language or is born in a different country or prays to the same God but in a different direction, using different words?"
Dr. Shahid Athar

Forgiveness in Islam
By Shahid Athar, M.D.
"O Son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it." - Hadith qudsi.

Frustrations of an American Muslim after visiting a Muslim country.
Shahid Athar, M. D. laments the "hypocrisy in the preaching and practicing of Islam" following a trip to Pakistan.

Lessons from Malcolm X
Shahid Athar MD examines the man and his legacy.

Twenty-Five Questions asked about Islam
American doctor, Shahid Athar, replies to 25 questions asked by real people.

Islamic Medicine: 1000 years ahead of its times
by Ibrahim B. Syed.  Edited by Shahid Athar, M. D.

Medical Ethics Questions asked by Muslims in the USA and their Short Answers
By Shahid Athar, MD, FACP, FACE, Former Chair, Medical Ethics, Islamic Medical Association of North America.

Some Common Misconceptions about Shi'ism
by Shahid Athar MD

The Spiritual and Health Benefits of Ramadan Fasting
By Shahid Athar M.D.
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn self restraint". (Quran 2:183)

YES, WE ARE AT WAR
A poem by Shahid Athar M.D.

The Future of American Muslims after September 11
"The joy of being a Muslim in America is gone, at least for now. All the progress we have made in the last 30 years is being reversed. We have to start all over again.  We American Muslims are going through the most difficult time in our history in this country."
By Dr. Shahid Athar, President of The Islamic Medical Association of North America.

A Prayer on Eid Day
by Shahid Athar M.D.

Shahid Athar M.D. is Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, Indiana.

Visit his website: Islam-USA.com 

Dr. Athar was born at Patna, India. He did his medical training in Karachi, (Pakistan), Chicago, (Illinois), and at Indiana University where he is a Clinical Associate Professor. He was President of Islamic Society of Greater Indianapolis

1986 - 1987. He is an alternate delegate to UN (NGO) for World Muslim Congress, the president of Interfaith Alliance, an active member of Council For National Interest, Christian & Muslims For Peace, Amnesty International, Physicians For Human Rights, lslamic Medical Association, Solidarity Int. For Human Rights, advisor to weekly TV Program, "Faces of Faith", WTHR Indianapolis. Indiana Council for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relation Committee.

He was nominated for 1992 Jefferson Award and received Diamond Award for outstanding volunteerism from the "United To Serve America". He is a U.S. Citizen and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and four children.

He has written and published over 110 articles on Islam, authored "Peace Through Submission" (PTS) and edited "Islamic Perspective in Medicine". He is currently working on "Invitation to Islam - Letters of a Dayee". He has spoken to many Muslim institutions, mosques, universities and churches all over the USA. He is listed in the International Directory of Specialists in Islamic Studies published from Rabbat, Morocco, 1991, and North American Muslim Resource Directory, 1994.

Update 2002
Other books are "Health Concerns for Believers", " Reflections of an American Muslim" and "Sex Education -An Islamic Perspective " all published by Kazi Publications in Chicago and available from amazon.com and can be read at his webpage Islam-USA.com. His collection of English poems was just released by Watermark Press "Reflections in Love". Currently he is the elected President of The Islamic Medical Association of North America.

Dr Shahid Athar elected President of the Islamic Medical Association of North America
Text of acceptance speech  made during the banquet at the IMANA International Convention in Tehran, July 31 ,2001.

Islam For Today contributor, Dr. Shahid Athar, receives Indianapolis Community Service Award