Lighthouse for Humanity: Bloomfield Muslim Community Center stands firmly against injustice. To that affect we have participated in Vigils/Memorials across CT including:
Asylum Hill Congregational Church – Hartford, CT – June 13, 2016
Unitarian Universalist East – Manchester CT – June 15, 2016
Granby Town Green – Granby CT – June 16, 2015
First Congregational Church – Guilford CT June 19, 2016
First Church – Windsor CT – June 19, 2016
Church of Christ Congregational – Goshen CT – June 20, 2016
First Congregational Bloomfield – Bloomfield CT June 21, 2016
Statement given by Imam Sami Abdul Aziz:
On behalf of the American Muslim community, we, want to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the barbaric assault that occurred this past Sunday at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. We unequivocally say that such an act of hate-fueled violence has no place in any faith, including Islam. As people of faith, we believe that all human beings have the right to safety and security and that each and every human life is inviolable.
It is a very sad day when a person of my faith believes our religion advocates violence against peaceful individuals. Going a step further he violates the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed bringing peace to hearts. Islam must be learned from Scholars & Imams of the religion. Not through the internet. As this investigation unfolded we found Omar Mateen to be a loner seeking meaning in life and finding it through websites. A person with a deep identity crisis of being from Afghan heritage, Muslim, brown-skinned, and Gay. The answer to this type of darkness is the light that comes from Mental health professionals, Imams, Chaplains, Scholars and religious schools which ground students in their religious and civic identity. It is a major crime and sin to harm the people of our country. They are our neighbors, friends, family members, employers, and colleagues. Harming them is corruption, a clear sign of no faith, ignorance and misguidance. God help us in our time of ignorance and save us from those who claim religion but have hearts of wolves. “The true believer is one who all people are saved, from his hand and words.” This Prophetic tradition is enough if we follow it. The Qur’an states that taking of one life is like taking the life of all of humanity. This past sunday we as human beings experienced that traumatic loss 50 times over. Everyday in this country we experience that loss through violence. Everyday the world over we experience that loss every minute through wars and other acts of barbarity. May God bring healing to our broken world. Ameen-Amen
There are extremists in America and abroad who view the world through a Manichean lens: American Manicheans want Americans to see themselves as entirely “good” and all Muslims as entirely “evil.” Muslim Manicheans want Muslims to see themselves as entirely “good” and all Americans as entirely “evil.” This is a catastrophic recipe for unrelenting violence, and it must be rejected: We will not allow the extremists to define us, mold us in their benighted image, or sow the seeds of discord among us. We are one people, so let us all in good conscience and human solidarity reject this extremist narrative and assert our shared humanity and mutual respect for the sanctity of all human life. May God bring healing to our broken world. Ameen-Amen