Friday 15th March 2019 witnessed another heartbreaking tragedy, not only for us Muslims, but for humanity. As my children were leaving for school, I couldn’t help but feel scared. And I shouldn’t have, because the UK is a very diverse country, but #NewZealand is one of the safest countries in the world. So if this could happen in Christchurch, it could happen anywhere.
But, trying to be strong for my children, I told my son, Omar Mukhtar, as he kissed my hand to leave for school that morning, “Don’t forget your Friday prayers. Don’t ever feel scared. This is a time to be steadfast. Don’t forget to pray for the victims and their loved ones. May Allah protect you.”
I watched my children leave for school that morning with a heavy heart. That’s when I thought about all those poor mothers in #Christchurch whose sons left to pray but never returned...those wives who were waiting for their husbands to come home from the mosque but never did. I mourn for them. I grieve for them.
Only God knows how traumatised I was. I couldn’t do anything other than pray. I prayed not only for the victims and their loved ones, but also for our nation and humanity. As my husband was leaving for his Friday prayers, he hugged me. A very tight one, like he didn’t want to let go. My heart wanted to say, “Please don’t go.” but my mouth said, “Be safe. May Allah be with you. I will wait for you.”
I felt robbed of my safety. And I shouldn’t have been. Nobody should be. Muslims should not be afraid to go pray at mosques, Christians should not be afraid to go pray in churches, and neither should anyone from any other religion.
I was sobbing and my body was literally shaking when I heard the news...“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack.” Finally, someone was brave enough to address this as an act of extreme violence without being biased to any religion. I commend Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Indeed, it was one of the darkest days. But this dark time of violence and hatred worldwide will stop only when we replace fear and divisiveness with unity and harmony.
Love,
Mrs Mom
#wisemomsays
#PrayForChristchurch
#PrayForNewZealand
#PrayForHumanity
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