Yusha Evans – ‘ Statement on the Shootings in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH

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bas Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim on behalf of East Plano Islamic center. We want to offer our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathies to all of those who were affected by the senseless acts of violence and terrorism perpetrated in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio yesterday. Islam places a high value on all life. No Quran says whosoever has saved one life, it is as if they've saved the life of all of mankind. And whosoever has taken one innocent life, it is as if they have taken the life of all of mankind. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him strove during his entire life, to establish social justice and establish the value and sanctity of human life. He established

a treaty of Fidel before even reaching prophethood to stand up for social justice. He established a charter in Medina to establish the bonds of brotherhood and the social justice that all people can live in peace. He was the first person in recorded history to stand up in front of a large gathering and abolish racism at all levels. He said that a white person is not better than a black person, a black person is not better than a white person, and out of is not better than a non autumn and in and out of his not better than out of, but the best of you are those who have the most consciousness of the Creator and their closest to their Creator. This idea of racism, bigotry, hatred, is a cancer

in our society that needs to be addressed and eradicated from the very root to the stem to the very leaf. If not, it can destabilize it can be stabilized and destroy the very fabric of this nation. We as Muslims have a religious duty to stand up for justice. We have a religious duty to stand up against evil, we have a religious duty to stand up against racism, and bigotry and hatred, wherever we find it, even if it is in within our own communities. The Quran says to stand up for justice, stand up for justice, even if that justice be against your own self. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said if you see an evil, change it if you can change it with your hands, change it with

your hands, if you can change it with your tongue by speaking out, change it with your tongue, if you're not even able to do either than at least hated in your heart. And this is the least of faith. So in closing, we stand in solidarity at the East Plano Islamic center with our brothers and sisters in humanity. We stand in support of the families of the victims. We have began fundraising campaigns to elicit funds from our community and others to see if we can help in easing a little bit of the burden and pain that is felt through the communities in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio. This is our job. We have this responsibility. It is a religious duty. May Allah bless you all. May Allah grant us

peace, safety and security. We pray for this peace. We pray for the safety. We pray for this security.