Originally published in CantonRep
Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev are the alleged perpetrators behind the Boston Marathon tragedy that took place last year, causing the deaths of three people and injuring 264 others. Dzhokhar claimed his brother said that these bombings were done to protect Islam from attack. I disagree.
These attacks are completely opposite the teachings of Islam and are what truly hurt Islam. The Quran states that “whosoever kills a person … it shall be as if he killed all of mankind” (5:33).
In short this verse means that the sin or punishment of an act of killing another human being is comparable, in the eyes of God, to the killing of all of humanity. It is an evident example of how Islam values life.
Although no one could ever do enough to heal the sorrow of the families affected, I do send my condolences. I also must remember what happened on this unfortunate day as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community remembered the victims through a blood drive at Boston City Hall.
I pray that Boston has a successful and safe marathon this year.
