Imam-i-Kaaba condemns New Zealand terror attack, calls it a terrible crime

The Director of the General Presidency for Affairs of al-Masjid al-Haraam and the Prophet’s Masjid, his eminence ash-Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez as-Sudays, has issued a statement on behalf of himself and all the Imaams, Khateebs, scholars, teachers, and staff at al-Masjid al-Haraam and the Prophet’s Masjid. 

The detailed statement has condemned the terrorist attacks in which two New Zealand mosques were targeted on Friday. He underscored that what took place constituted a crime and an act of corruption, hostility, terrorism, and oppression.

His eminence cited  Quranic teachings  and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. 

The Director of the General Presidency called for people to fulfil Allah’s commands and avoid His prohibitions, and to also beware of all acts of crime, violence, and terrorism since these are tremendous evils which demolish societies and their stability. Instances of terrorism like the ones perpetrated are deceitful criminal acts which opponents of Islam utilize to make nations of the world an arena for carrying them out and they aim to have them happen even more in lands of Muslims, especially the Land of the Two Holy Mosques, he said. 

The Director further noted that unlawfully taking anyone’s life is oppression, aggression, and terrorism which completely contravenes Islam’s teachings.  The Director, as-Sudays, also stressed that Islam’s teachings treat the sanctity of people’s lives as a very serious matter and its teachings seek to protect them.

His eminence called for people in general to beware of deviant ideologies. He also encouraged all people to work towards establishing safety in all its forms, especially when it comes to safeguarding people’s lives and well being. He emphasized the gravity of making mosques, places of worship, and worshippers the targets of acts such as the recent atrocities that were perpetrated. 

Mosques are to be maintained, populated for worship, and kept clear of anything that detracts from the message they fulfil; let alone be made a scene of crime, destruction, and violation of sanctity. 

The Director of the General Presidency underscored that these terrorist acts will only serve to strengthen our unity and steadfastness. He remarked that by Allah’s permission, the bullets of terrorism will fall when they hit the rock-solid mountain of the unity that exists among our leaders and general public. 

In closing, he prayed for the recovery and well being of the injured, prayed for the leaders of Muslims, and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.