It’s been 11 years since the anniversary of the horrible
events of 9/11/2001. The memories of that day will always be etched in our
hearts forever. I will never forget the day-to-day feelings and thoughts and
discussions that were happening in and around us, in the news and around the
globe.
It was a time when intolerance was becoming more apparent
amongst individuals and there was a heightened sense of curiosity for anyone
that looked slightly different. Threats,
increased security, acts of hatred and ignorance were on the horizon and this
created a great amount of terror in the air. On the other hand some people
experienced the most profound displays of love, affection and protection from our
neighbors and random strangers.
I will never forget the day when our family went to offer
our Friday prayers just a few days after 9/11 had happened. Our Mosque had
received threatening calls by random strangers to bomb and destroy our place of
worship. Many Muslims decided not to come to pray that week but our family was
one of the few that went ahead despite the looming threats on our head. Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) has related in a Hadith
Qudsi (records containing the Word from God) “When my
servant takes one step towards Me, I take ten steps towards him. When my
servant comes walking towards Me, I come running towards him.” All I could think of were these words
of God as we were pleasantly surprised when we had arrived at the mosque.
The most generous group of Methodist Christians had come to surround our Mosque
while the prayers were in session. They came all the way from the East Coast to
protect their fellow Muslim Americans from the threats of terrorism that were
being targeted at Muslim places of Worship. These beautiful people left the comfort
of their homes on a rainy Friday afternoon to protect their fellow people even
though they knew that our security was under threat. They became our shield and
risked their own lives to allow us to pray in peace. At that point I knew God
came running toward us, He had sent His angels.
As Muslims, we were in a tough place, on one hand we mourned
the loss of the legendary twin towers in NY and the 3000+ innocent victims that
were in them, while on the other hand we the “Muslims” were being viewed as the
enemy who became the ‘perpetrators’ of the heinous crime. The sad thing is that whomever spearheaded
the crime whether it is Al-Qaida, Osama Bin Ladin or the Devil himself; I can
say one thing with certainty the criminals were not Muslim. If Osama did this
in the name of Islam then he most definitely is not a real Muslim. It
completely goes against the grain of Islam and the word of God. Anyone that
kills and takes matters in their own hands without due cause is disobeying God.
Unfortunately, the criminal’s unforgettable attack not only attacked US soil
but it also attacked Islam. Islam means ‘peace’ and ‘submitting to the will of
God’. Whomever was responsible for 9/11 was the enemy of humanity and someone
who is not sane or humane.
I just pray that we make an effort to get to know each other
around the globe and truly understand people. Hoping we can be more accepting
and tolerant of each others’ differences. I’d like to leave you with a quote
from the Quran chapter 49:13:
“O men! Behold, We have created you
all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so
that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight
of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold God is
all-knowing, all-aware.”
May all the innocent victim’s
souls Rest in Peace Eternally amen(ameen).
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