To God we belong, and to God is our return.
No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. When Muslims stand up to pray in congregation, we’re often reminded to pray as if it’s our last prayer. I don’t think any of us will need reminding today.
Al-Madinah Center and muslims around the world are grieved by the heinous shootings at the New Zealand Mosques. Our prayers go out to the victims, their families and the people of New Zealand during this terrible tragedy.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in NZ who lost their lives, their loved ones, their health and security today. Don’t forget about them tomorrow. Don’t forget about the families from the Quebec City Mosque. Don’t forget about other brothers and sisters around the world whose mosques, churches, synagogues, temples have been attacked. Our hearts are as large as we want to make them. Our empathy need never run out.
As we witnessed in the aftermath of the Quebec Mosque Shooting, attacks against places of worship are especially sinister and represent an attack against an entire community’s consciousness. We also call upon elected officials to pursue a strategy against islamophobia, online hate speech, and online hate platforms, which has contributed to this and other similar attacks, so that Canadians can be protected from hate speech and incitement.
If you’re too anxious to go out today, take care of yourself and don’t feel guilty. God is with you.
If you’re going to Friday prayer today, go without fear, go with gratitude. God is with you, every step.
Non-Muslim friends: if you’d like to show solidarity and sympathy, consider donating to the victims and, if you can, bringing flowers or a card to a mosque near you. These gestures matter, they help us feel safe in our own neighborhoods.
Everyone, please be mindful in how you speak or share news of this tragedy or any related discussions. Let’s not multiply trauma and anxiety through carelessness. Let’s have dignity in our grief. Let’s be kind and generous.
Together, we can reject hatred, and call out discourses and policies that enable it.