New Zealand, a country depicting calm and serenity, was rained with bullets. Bullets on human values, ideals and colour. Bullets on a belief system,which is built upon patience ,forbearance and acceptance.
Watching the grave scene unfold, had a deep impact on all of us. Everytime I lay in bed I could envisage myself lying in that carnage. I have also lost sleep rewinding the scene moments before it there in my head over and over again. There would have been a sense of calm and peace , as is always during the time of the Friday sermon.
Friday is a day of a small celebration for muslims worldwide. Mothers and wives would have bid farewell to their loved one’s, preparing favourite meals for lunch , as is the custom in many households. They never knew that they would be greeted with such grevious news.
One man armed with hatred thought that he could crush an entire belief system, he could break lives and create chaos. That’s the smaller part of the picture. But what he did not know was his hatred increased our faith, strengthened the communal bonds and brought more people to recognize and respect Islam.
Islam means peace. And throughout time it has demonstrated this. Bar the actions of a few, peace and tolerance is the foundation of our faith. And we must live upon it if we are true believers.
Every religion has its radical members. But can we define a religion on the basis of this? Why are killers from other faiths justified for their actions by terms, like angelic boy gone on the wrong way and muslims doing the same, labelled as terrorists? If we were to define the entire religious system based on the action of these few maniacs,everyone will have a terrorist label stamped on them.
As stories of heroism unfolded after the carnage, it can be clearly seen that people preferred to help others over themselves. This is what Islam preaches-to love and care for your brothers and sisters in faith.If the people who died only cared about themselves , the death toll would have been far greater.
Prophet Muhammed ( May the peace and blessings be upon Him) said:
“None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
Related by Bukhari & Muslim
It’s very sad to know that the killer had gone to lengths to learn about the incidents of the past, which caused harm to Muslim community and to write a 73 pg manifesto. But I wish he had taken the same efforts to find out about Islam and peace with which muslims live. I wish he had realized that he did not kill the people in the mosque, but they were chosen to be raised to the rank of martyrs.
This Incident made my belief strong on the fact that sometimes u need a little jolt to bring about greater good. No doubt this has been a dark day for all the people who have faced this, the families that were torn apart and the entire muslim community worldwide. But it has also brought about greater understanding about the religion, about the refugees who have left their countries for a better life, about the biased system of the media and to the fact that humanity comes above any colour or caste.
I believe that two critical points needs too be addressed now.
- Knowledge is the key to eradicate Islamophobia. I urge all the people who have a hatred towards Islam to learn and understand the religion and not base it upon the rubbish pictured in the one sided media. Only a narrow minded person can base his ideologies and thinking on hearsay. Every sane person knows that every small judgement needs facts to support it. So what about religion, which is such an integral part of each and everyone of us. Can we just define our thoughts about it by relying on media and view points of others? We have a lot of knowledge today but we lack the very little critical knowledge which will help us demarcate between the right and the wrong
- Violence has been etched into our younger generation making them immune to it. Video games depicting such carnage and violence is played by every kid. They grow into adults who cannot sympathise with human values. We need to help our younger generation grow in humane humans. And it is one of the toughest challenges of today. I, as a mother of boys know it is almost impossible to keep them away from these futile games, where killing ,stealing and bloodshed is normal. But we all as individuals need to strive hard to create a peace loving and selfless generation. The struggle is real but we must put in the effort. It’s the small drops that make the ocean. If we all take a small step we can go a long way in minimising bloodshed and hatred in the future
I believe New Zealand and its people have set a great example to the entire world in the way they dealt with this incident, showering the muslim community with compassion and love. This is humanity in its completeness. The president has led by example and a big salute to her for showing what it means love the entire nation and feel its pain. Like Iman Jamal Fouda said -the blood of the martyrs has not gone in vain but it has watered the seeds of hope.
I urge each and every one of you to turn this incident into a beacon of light that will help put out the darkness of race, religion and creed that has crept into our society. To use this light to strengthen our bonds of love and brotherhood, so that the sacrifices of our fallen heroes do not go in vain.
Our heroes have fallen, but our faith has grown multi fold.
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it. (Holy Quran 61 :8)