At least 49 people were killed and 20 seriously injured in mass shootings at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday, March 15, that shocked the usually peaceful nation.
We are extremely shocked and disgusted by this. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. We especially feel the pain described in the Quran verse, “Whosoever killed a person [...] it shall be as if he had killed all mankind” (5:32).
While the shooter’s actions seem racially and religiously motivated, as Muslims we understand that this in no way reflects the views of his ethnic or religious identity. This same principle should also apply to so-called Islamic-inspired terrorists.
Prophet Muhammad forbade all forms of terrorism, and instead taught his followers to engage in personal reflection for self-improvement.
That was, is, and always will be the greatest Jihad.
The spiritual leader of Ahmadiyya muslim community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has stated that “Extremism must be cut at its root.”
Zahid Yousaf
Centreville