Friday 15 March 2019 was the darkest day in Christchurch, New Zealand.
A killer motivated with hate entered two Masajid and began shooting at innocent worshippers who gathered for Friday Jumma. They did not commit any crimes except believing in Allah Almighty peacefully.
The atrocity from the killer caused 51 worshippers to be killed that included a child, females and males. The atrocity left many more injured, and in trauma.
The overpowering grief was imposed on families, and on Muslims all over the world. The grief turned into tears, dua, love and compassion. It strengthened our belief in Allah and made us fearless.
Beside Muslims, New Zealanders joined in grief and came running towards their fellow humans to comfort grieving Muslims.
The electric poles on the roads had love signs with love messages and seeing that I could not hold back my tears.
Compassionate people from all walks of life managed to build a human shield to comfort and protect those who were vulnerable and were suffering with overwhelming grief.
My wife Husna Ahmed was among those 51 martyrs, and my family received compassion from Muslims and non-Muslims.
After 7 years of the tragedy, this year I organised a 15 March Service and Cakes Distribution ceremony to 160 houses in my neighbourhood.
During the service, many dignitaries and community leaders shared their thoughts and feelings in their speeches. In that, one point was highlighted very much and that was the compassion that resulted after the tragedy.
For example, the surviving families were grieving yet they took the path of peace, and compassion. Muslims in New Zealand and in the world took the path of peace as well.
There was not a single violence from Muslims in the world out of anger for 15 March massacre. That was the most remarkable sign of compassion from Muslims.
On the other hand, New Zealanders, from the parliament to the common people showed their compassion that the whole world was amazed with.
In my address I said, “I believe that Allah has accepted our Shuhada (martyrs) and made them the Light of inspiration to leave compassion behind for people to follow.”
Why did we distribute cakes in our neighbouring houses? Our team have been doing it every year since the massacre.
We do it to remind one another about the compassionate actions that we practiced after 15 March that we need to continue for a better world.
With it we try to spread the message that to push back hatred, violence and killing, we need to show love and compassion towards one another to win hearts.
We are motivated with this strategy by the Holy Quran. It says:
وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ
Good and evil cannot be equal. Respond (to evil) with what is best, then the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend. [Quran 41:34]
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