Chantilly — To the Editor:
The massacre of nine African-Americans in Charleston, S.C., by a suspected domestic terrorist has left the entire nation shell-shocked and horrified. The deadly shooting took place at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church during a Bible Study session. It is terrifying to think that these nine individuals were murdered while praying and studying scripture in a place of worship and brings this phrase to the forefront of my mind: "Is nothing sacred?"
Unfortunately, over the past few years, this phrase has become more and more relevant, whether it be in regards to the Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooting in 2012 or the mass murder of 86 Ahmadi Muslims in their mosque in Lahore, Pakistan in 2010. These tragedies force us to examine the racial and religious relations and tensions that not only exist throughout the world, but have become a motivation for violence in our own nation. In his Farewell Sermon, the Prophet Muhammad advised his followers with these words: “A white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white except by piety and good action.” As Americans, we can take into account this timeless advice as we remember the brave men and women who lost their lives in this horrific tragedy.
Shumaila Ahmad
Chantilly