Originally Published in The Middletown Press on March 27th, 2019
Commemorations are arising amid the aftermath of March 15’s barbaric terrorist attacks martyring 50 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, who gathered at mosques to observe the Islamic worship service that day.
As Ahmadi Muslims, we mourned the sacred lives lost, many of whom were innocent children, to blind hatred and violent misunderstandings, and we were not alone. As our worldwide spiritual leader, the Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said: “this should serve as a lesson and warning … we must join together to tackle all forms of racial, ethnic and religious hatred with wisdom and with a firm hand.”
Our Baitul Aman House of Peace Mosque in Meriden, which was shot at three years ago, belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, who believe the Messiah has come in Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, were embraced with tearful prayers, statements of solidarity, heartfelt letters and cards of condolences, flowers, and unified action by our Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and even atheist siblings in humanity.
Thank you. We invite you to also be a bridge in a divided society by visiting our mosque for dignified dialogue Tuesday nights at 6 p.m., as well as by inviting us to your houses of worship and platforms.
It shouldn’t take a tragedy for us to come together in understanding. Now is the time to live by “love for all, hatred for none” through our actions.
