The story about Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is sad and shocking. When I first learned of it, I could not stop reading about it, particularly once I found out he is Arab and Muslim. Since 9/11, there have been an innumerous number of suicide bombers, beheadings and many more acts of violence that were all done by Muslims and under the name of God, but it sincerely puzzles me to see such heinous crimes being committed by Muslims.

In practicing my religion, I have never found anything that would cause me to think I should take any action that would harm me or another one of God’s creations. An oft-quoted verse in the Quran, the Muslim holy book, says: “[I]f any one slays a person — unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land — it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people [5:32].”

I am not sure where the confusion comes into play here. What would justify harming an innocent person, knowing full well that only God knows what is truly justifiable? We should therefore analyze this situation on a psychological level rather than on a religious level because, in Islam, your actions determine your soul’s placement on the Day of Judgment. All Muslims would know this concept well.

If you go search for something having to do with Islam or the Quran on Google, it seems that more than half of your findings are likely to be written by Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer or another supporter of Islamophobia. It is like I am practicing my religion by committing to be a good person, being forgiving and being charitable; yet some people will still question my intentions. Talk to any Muslim at Emory, and every one of us will tell you the same thing about Islam: it centers on peace and keeps its followers on a path of devotion towards God.

Over and over and over again, God says in the Quran that performing righteous deeds is a prerequisite for getting into heaven.

Concerning the situation with Hasan, he is indeed a practicing Muslim. He probably prays five times a day, gives to charity and helps his brother in need.

Fellow Muslims who knew him testify that they do not understand what would compel him to do this and his character suggested that he would not, anyway. So, what would drive him to do something so insane and obviously wrong in Islam? It should not have anything to do with religion. It saddens me that he has to be an Arab and a Muslim. It saddens me because government officials, politicians and your average Joe on the street will all automatically make assumptions that he has links to al-Qaida and/or is a Muslim extremist. In truth, no one knows what he was going through and why he did it.

In light of the terrible incident at Fort Hood, Texas, I want to make a special request to anyone confused about Muslims or Islam in general to reach out to the appropriate sources to find information about Islam. Find a Muslim and have a conversation with him or her. For example, the Emory Muslim Students Association (MSA) works tirelessly to provide an educational environment for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike and reaches out to all cultural and religious organizations to cosponsor events. The Children of Abraham (CoA) program, for example, is an effort made with Emory Hillel in order to build and strengthen relations between the Jewish and Muslim communities. CoA had an event yesterday, which was a film screening on the topic of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and a discussion.

Finally, I represent the MSA and every Muslim at Emory in saying that we do not support or condone the alleged actions of Hasan at Fort Hood or any unjustified violent act of the sort. We are vehemently opposed to such actions and no one should believe otherwise. Insha’ Allah (God-willing), one day, we will find an easier time to live in, a time in which everyone is open-minded and accepting. I will include that cause in every one of my prayers.

Mukhtar Voss is a College junior from Columbus, Ga. He is the treasurer of Emory’s Muslim Student Association.