As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to reflect on what loyalty to our nation truly means. For me, as an Ahmadi Muslim woman living in America, it is simple: to love my country is part of my faith. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Love of one’s country is part of faith.” The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him), carried forward this same teaching and emphasized it in our time. Islam and patriotism are not in conflict. They are woven together like threads in one cloth.
I was only nine years old when 9/11 happened. At that age, I couldn’t fully grasp the scale of the tragedy. I remember adults speaking in hushed voices, news clips showing smoke and rubble, and a sense of fear that even a child could feel. It was only later, as I grew older and read more, that I understood what our country had endured. Nearly 3,000 lives lost in one morning. Families torn apart. A nation shaken to its core. That realization gave me a deeper understanding of loyalty; which is to stand with your country in its moments of greatest pain.
One way we show loyalty is by honoring sacrifice. Since that day, thousands of
American service members, firefighters, police officers, and healthcare workers have risked and even lost their lives to protect us. Their courage is the backbone of our security. To be loyal means we also remember their sacrifice. Patriotism is not only waving a flag; it is carrying the weight of that memory in our hearts.
Another way we show loyalty is through service. Studies show that Americans volunteer nearly 7 billion hours every year, worth about $167 billion in economic value. From food banks to disaster relief, service is the heartbeat of this nation. As an Ahmadi Muslim woman, I join these efforts. Our community actively participates in activities like blood drives and donations to shelters. We believe that to serve humanity is to serve God. When I pack meals for the hungry, I am not only serving my faith—I am serving America.
Loyalty also means building bridges in times of division. After 9/11, Muslims often found themselves under suspicion. I heard stories of fellow muslims being asked by classmates if they were “like them,” and not knowing how to respond. It took time for me as well to learn how to explain that my faith rejects violence and teaches peace. Division weakens a nation like cracks weaken a foundation. But unity strengthens us like bricks cemented together. Loyalty is not passive. It means working actively to heal, connect, and bring people closer.
For me, loyalty is not blind. It does not mean agreeing with every policy or ignoring injustice. It means caring enough to speak out when something is wrong, and caring even more to help make it right. It is like the loyalty of a mother who guides her child, not because she wants to control him, but because she wants him to thrive.
As 9/11 reminds us of both tragedy and resilience, let us renew our promise to this country. Let us be loyal in sacrifice, in service, and in unity. Let us show, through our actions, that love of nation is not about where we stand during the anthem, but about how we stand with one another when times are hardest.
America is my home. My roots are here. My loyalty is here. And as my faith teaches me, to love my country is to love my faith.
Written by:
Natasha Zahid
Member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Milpitas, CA)
“Islam and patriotism are not in conflict. They are woven together like threads in one cloth”
What a beautiful teachings! May God bless United States of America and guide our leaders to lead our nation to true prosperity