Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha.  The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions.

During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.

This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj.  Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration’s commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.

On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season

– Eid Mubarak.”

As an American Muslim, I am deeply heartbroken over the shooting that took place at Fort Hood. I condemn the attack and I am proud of all of the American Muslim organizations that have also condemned this tragic shooting.

My heart particularly breaks over the fact that this shooting was done against our American brothers and sisters who were preparing to deploy with our Armed Services. I have been to the Muslim World since the War On Terror started and seen the contributions of our Armed Forces firsthand – I am convinced that America is not fighting the Muslim World, but rather, liberating it. Many Muslims around the world are held hostage to irrational dictators or terrible tribal customs that are the root causes of civil war, strife, and poverty within the Muslim World – and any notion that the world’s Muslims welcome such strife is completely wrong. Polling from the group Terror Free Tomorrow confirms that the Muslim World is against Al-Quaida and Osama Bin Laden. After all, the mass majority of Al-Quaida’s victims are Muslims, as Al-Quaida suicide missions most frequently take place in Islamic countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, and Iraq.

And yes, American actions are not always perfect – yet, I forever remain touched, as a Muslim, that our America is steadfast in its nobility to take on this fight against Al-Quaida, not just for the sake of protecting American freedoms, but also for the sake of liberating Muslims across the world.

Lastly, I do not fear an American backlash against Muslims, nor do I fear any regressions in American relationships with Muslim communities. Zogby International and Cornell University did extensive studies on Muslims in America in the 2000’s with both studies concluding that, as a demographic, American Muslims boast tremendously high levels of education and wealth. More importantly, these positive trends are rising, proving that America is, indeed, a country where Muslims will find their best opportunities, not backlashes.

In closing, I speak for the American Muslim population when I say that we do not consider ourselves Saudi Arabians, Pakistanis, Iranians, or Egyptians – we are Americans! And we are proud to be American.

Please let it be known that American Muslims stand with everyone in condemning the tragic shooting at Fort Hood and that we will be working to make sure that similar attacks never happen again.

Peace and love – Ali Hasan