“We stand together against a common enemy” of terrorism. We stand together to tell them that we will not be divided, and that they will never be successful here.”
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| Imam Hamid Malik, Baitun Naseer Mosque, Rochester |
Source/Credit: Democrat and Chronicle
By Sarah Taddeo | December 20, 2015
When Mubarak Bashir hears news of yet another shooting in the U.S., his first thought is typically, "I hope it’s not a Muslim."
The same thought goes through the heads of countless Muslims in Rochester and around the world, as they see what they hold to be a peaceful faith being used to justify such hateful actions, said Bashir, the director of faith outreach for the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
In response to swirling misconceptions on the tenets of Islam, the group held an interfaith vigil Saturday to draw the area’s faith communities together in prayer for the victims of the San Bernardino shooting, and for peace.
“We stand together against a common enemy” of terrorism, said Hamid Malik, an imam, or faith leader, at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Baitun Naseer Mosque in Rochester. “We stand together to tell them that we will not be divided, and that they will never be successful here.”
Terrorists linked to the Islamic State group, also referred to as ISIS, use Islam for political gain and take verses of the Islamic holy book, the Quran, out of context, said Bashir.
“Because they use this religion as their backbone, people really think this is true without searching and studying on their own,” he said.
The best thing local Muslims can be doing after tragedies like San Bernardino is serving their neighbors, which shows the true message of the Islamic faith, said Bashir.
Saturday’s vigil was open to those of all faiths, and featured several local pastors and a rabbi speaking alongside Malik.
People pray during a moment of silence for San BernardinoBuy Photo
“Peace is not just placidity, it’s harmony,” said David Inglis of the Henrietta United Church of Christ. Peace begins with each person surrendering anger and sadness from past hurts to God, he said.
For people of the Jewish faith, peace comes during the Sabbath, which runs every week from sundown on Fridays to sundown on Saturdays, said Rabbi Peter Stein of Temple B’rith Kodesh in Brighton.
It is a melancholy time when Sabbath ends, but Stein’s challenge to vigil attendees was to bring the Sabbath’s message of peace to the world during the other six days of the week.
Being part of that global peace means publicly standing with Muslim neighbors in the fight against terror, said Barbara Blaisdell of Brighton, one of many non-Muslims present at the vigil.
The U.S. is built on celebrating differences, but too often those differences lead to fear instead of friendship, she said.
Echoing the sentiments of Susan B. Anthony, “I’m here because I believe in equity for all and involvement by all,” said Blaisdell.
STADDEO@Gannett.com
Read original post here: -Vigil at Rochester's Baitun Naseer Mosque remembers San Bernardino
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