New Zealand’s terrorist attack and its unsuspected consequences

I received the news of this terrifying attack at approximately 3.00am by text, from a friend. It came as a complete shock and removed any thoughts of further sleep from my mind. I was confused and just prayed that it was not true. A congregation of Jumuah salaah (Friday Prayers) had just started at the Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch; probably the first Jumuah salaah of the day to begin in the whole world, but no one visualised that such a calamity, planned by a lunatic ‘lone’ wolf as is claimed, was about to be inflicted on those attending that Friday congregation .

The world’s anti-Islam and Muslim hate mongers have been preparing such an atrocity for decades. Indeed in many countries, it has become one way of achieving power and political populism by demeaning Islam and indulging in violence towards Muslims. Both social media and the worldwide internet provide ready made and easily accessible platforms for those hate-mongering opportunists whose only goal appears to be a desire to destabilise the world. Such people continually use these platforms to spread whatever lies and misinformation as they wish, with no fear of the consequences, irrespective of the inevitable adverse effects on other people’s lives and on their communities.

Since the infamous phrase ‘War on Terrorism’ was coined, before the Iraq war, a mindset has developed, akin to slow poisoning, against Islam. As a result, a sizeable proportion of the world’s population has grown up in countries which actively foster hatred and bigotry, arising out of ignorance and spite, against Islam and all Muslims.

Terrorism is a phenomenon in our world that now exists in all countries and has followers from all the major religions and cultures. They all seem to have a ‘just’ cause to fight for. What is a cause for great concern is the hastiness with which Muslims are labelled as responsible as soon as an incident occurs. If an act of terrorism is obviously committed by a non Muslim, it is rarely labelled as such until much later.

In the case of the New Zealand attack, it was very different. I pay homage to the fair-mindedness and courage of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who never hesitated to call it a terrorist act, as did the Australia’s Prime Minister.

Muslim communities have paid a heavy price in this war on terrorism campaign worldwide. They are often, themselves, targets of attack in many countries, including Muslim countries. Families have been shattered and communities have been destroyed and their loyalties have consistently been brought into question.

However, this time, the world response has been quite different. The world seems, with an astonishing outpouring of emotion and solidarity, to be behind their Muslim communities. For this I would give credit to the New Zealand’s Prime Minister’s response to this barbaric atrocity and how she handled the whole unfolding situation with complete empathy and outstanding leadership despite threats to her own safety.

The politicians and people of New Zealand treated the incident as an attack on their entire population and not just on a ‘Muslim community’. The whole political system stood in solidarity and empathy towards their Muslim population and willingly offered their condolences through their parliament, and by inviting the imam and his Muslim colleagues to recite from the Quran with translation, the intended consequences of the perpetrator have been thwarted and reversed. 

A decent and wise leadership keeps working in even difficult circumstances to achieve what is a good and healthier path for their people to follow. The minds of the peoples of this world must no longer be subject to forces that would create an atmosphere of prejudice and bigotry, as in the past. We have great challenges in building our new world and maybe, just maybe, New Zealand has provided a beginning. 

The responses to this act came from three sources:

The first was political and was led by the Prime Minister of New Zealand and its parliamentary parties, including civic leaders with the support of local police and local governments. This resulted in many other world leaders condemning the barbaric attack.

The second came from interfaith and Faith communities. Leaders of Muslim, Jewish and Christian Faiths stood in solidarity worldwide. Interfaith Groups have been the strength and a source of moral support in this terrible time. Leaders of many world religions have shown their empathy and also stood with their Muslim communities.

The third has been the continuing outpouring of empathy from the public. Local residents visited their local mosques and offered help and their condolences with bouquets of flowers and words of kindness.

It all shows that, in New Zealand at least, Muslims are not isolated at times like this. A wide range of leadership and communities groups have come forward to support them. I have been heartened with all these responses and know that it is no longer all doom and gloom in this world. When I was the Imam at the Bath Islamic Society, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 or 7/7 and other terrorist attacks that have taken place, I received a very heartening local response from local government, Faith communities, the Interfaith Group and local residents. That gave me drive and strength to further building bridges of understanding and harmony among people.

We, the Muslim community, have the ideal religious teachings and guidance to bring the humanity together and fight against  prejudiced attitudes and bigoted thoughts of any kind against anyone and any people. We also must engage with all people and work together with them in promoting peace and justice and for all causes that serve humanity. Islamic teachings address humanity but are not exclusive to Muslims. Islam asks us to take a leadership role in all good causes and in co-operating with others in that which promotes goodness and righteous works.

Let this despicable and barbaric attack become the catalyst in changing our fortunes, improving our community relationships and herald a new world that can accommodate us all in peace and harmony.