Jacaylbaro Posted July 9, 2007 AS THE investigation of the terror plots in London and Glasgow unfolds, I am experiencing the emotions I often do in hearing that people associated with my faith are involved - incredulity, anger, and outrage that once again, these heinous acts are associated with people professing to be Muslims. But this time, my sense of disbelief and betrayal reaches a new level as I learn that many of those accused share not only my faith but also my profession. The thought of physicians treating patients while secretly plotting to kill innocent people sickens and angers me on a new level. It is the ultimate betrayal of the trust placed in them to use their hands for healing, their intellects for diagnosis , and their demeanors to bring comfort to the sick. As a Muslim physician, I believe the gifts I have been given are entrusted to me by God for the purpose of serving humanity. Islam teaches me that whatever I do, God is witness to my actions and intentions and I will be accountable to Him. The Koranic verse that equates saving one life with saving the lives of all of humanity teaches me the sacredness of each life and inspires me to strive for professional excellence. For me, the most rewarding part of being a pediatrician is knowing that my patients' families trust me with the most important thing in their lives: their children. Muslim physicians have contributed to the well-being of America in innumerable ways, from caring for the poor in free medical clinics to serving in disaster zones after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina. My own cousins from Pakistan were surgery residents at a New York hospital on trauma call on Sept. 11, 2001, treating patients injured in those attacks. The stark contrast between my experience as a Muslim doctor and the news I am now seeing helps explain the disbelief and emotions I feel when learning that Muslim doctors are accused of such heinous actions that betray their profession and their faith. I know these people are an aberration, people gone wrong as human beings sometimes do. If these doctors are guilty, they must be brought to justice. I only hope that we remember to deal with these individuals as just that - individuals who chose evil on their own and not as representative of their faith or profession. I hope we as a community refrain from generalizing the acts of suspected criminals to Muslim doctors in general. By Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
