Muslims are messengers of mercy to humanity. This message is being buried under the mountains of distortion and defamation being directed towards our community and the gasoline that some ignorant, misguided or devious Muslims are wittingly or unwittingly pouring on smoldering embers of hatred, fear and insecurity that some anti-Muslim forces are spreading here in the West.

We are directly commissioned by our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him) to undertake this mission of mercy when he mentioned to a group of his companions: “You will not enter Paradise until you are merciful.” Those assembled replied, “All of us are merciful, O Messenger of Allah!” He said (peace and blessings of Allah upon him), “I do not mean the mercy one of you might show to those closest to him, what I mean is mercy to all people, mercy to the general public.” (Related by Hakim, Nasa’i and others)

Let us ignore the provocations and defamation and get about the work of being a source of good and mercy to all we may come into contact with. May Allah bless you all and make things easy for you and your families during these trying times.