New Zealand: Hurting Yet Healing

50 killed. 50 injured. The serenity and contentment brought by the coming of the Jumu'ah prayers was readily ruptured by the gunshots of a mass shooting deemed a "terrorist attack." A 28 year old man by the name of Brenton Tarrant has been charged with murder as the lives of many have been taken at two masjids in Christchurch, New Zealand this Friday morning. The armed man had been streaming his mass murder online, mercilessly spilling the blood of defenseless and innocent Muslims preparing to perform the congregational prayers. He targeted the Al-Noor Mosque, in which 42 people died, and the Linwood Mosque, where 7 were killed and many more were left injured and fearful. The shooter had allegedly held extremist views and in a document posted on social media before the attack, he praised mass murderers such as Dylann Roof, who had previously attacked a church in South Carolina back in 2015. Jacinda Arden, Prime Minister of New Zealand, stated that “this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days" and further acknowledged that the victims, some of whom were immigrants, were "one of us." This painful day has left a gash not only in the hearts of the victims' families and the community of Christchurch, but also the Muslim ummah at large. We have always understood that our testimony of faith and adherence to our religion has left us as targets to the hateful, however this ruthless incident has reminded us of the terrifying reality of it all. However, we must remember that Allah has ordained every hardship with a promise of future times of ease. May Allah give their families and the community patience and comfort and grant the martyrs Jannah-tul-Firdous. Ameen.