Vigil Following the Events in New Zealand at HCIC by Bashar Khalaf

The theme that was summoned in the vigil for our New Zealand brothers and sisters was “unity.” Many speakers from many different religious and personal beliefs came and publicly gave their condolences on a microphone in front of hundreds of attendees at the HCIC on the Sunday following the tragedy.

Many heartfelt people gave their support to the Muslim community in this trying time, but other communities received support as well.These mentioning did not take away from the direct intent of the vigil to give support to Muslims as it focused on a greater ideal, unity.

Martin Luther King Jr. was quoted by one Christian speaker, and I would like to quote Dr. King once more when he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Again, unity is the ultimate goal. Although Dr. King and our kind speakers were headed in the right direction, it is our Prophet Muhammad (SAS) who put it most beautifully as stated in Bukhari, ‘The believers resemble one body, so that if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the ill feeling’.

We must unite and take what our collective goals have in common and not allow any injustice that we know about. The call to action is to stop injustice when you see it, advise the politicians around you to do so at the local and global level, and pray for those who you cannot help with your hands or voice. May God forgive us for allowing so much pain to our Muslim brothers and sisters and for all other oppressed people.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6011 Book 78, Hadith 42