Peace be upon you (Assalamu Alaykum),

We ask Allah (SWT), the Most High, to help us with patience and prayers in this difficult time.

Please join us for a Shia-Sunni Alliance Forum (SSAF) solidarity gathering on Monday, August 15th from 8:00pm to 9:27pm (between Maghrib and Isha) at All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Sterling Branch (46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling, VA). The gathering will be in the prayer area. Please click here to RSVP and kindly let us know how many of you will attend.

You can also join us on Instagram Live beginning at 8pm ET by clicking here.

From Allah (SWT) we come, to Allah (SWT) we return. The Shia-Sunni Alliance Forum (SSAF) is saddened to hear of the tragic and targeted killing of four community members in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We offer our sincerest condolences to the bereaved families and the community of Muslims in Albuquerque. May God shower the deceased with mercy and forgiveness and give patience to their surviving loved ones.

Let us come together to promote peace, respect, and dialogue, and strive to root out prejudice of all kinds. Indeed, the Holy Quran says, “O humankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes that you may identify yourselves with one another [and know each other better].” Only together can we build a more peaceful and harmonious nation and community for all. Let us recommit to working together consistently and positively in learning and growing as a community. Additionally, let us hear and understand from Shia Muslim community members the effects of this tragedy and the journey forward.

The Shia-Sunni Alliance Forum (SSAF) thanks the Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Police and FBI for the efforts and finding and arresting the perpetrator. We again thank the White House, DOJ, and DHS for their solidarity and help in this difficult time. We applaud the excellent partnership between the Muslim Community and law enforcement that helped lead to this arrest. This is a relief for Muslims in New Mexico and nationwide. We understand the motives are still being investigated but were very troubled to hear that the perpetrator may have had hateful motivations in targeting Shia Muslim community members. If this proves to be accurate, we urge that this case be considered for hate crime charges. The Muslim community of America has consistently affirmed that anti-Shia or similar sectarian sentiments and violence contravene Islamic principles and are unacceptable in the USA, and are opposed around the World.

Shia-Sunni Alliance Forum (SSAF) expresses solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in the Shia Muslim community in this difficult time. Please note, The Shia and Sunni Muslim communities have solidarity and fellowship in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Please also see nationwide Shia Sunni fellowship efforts. In February 2020, Shia Sunni Alliance Forum (SSAF) brought together Community Leadership from the USA (VA/DC/MD/MI/NY/NJ/CA/TX/GA), Pakistan, Nigeria, & Iraq. In 2013, Shia-Sunni Scholars came together for the Washington Declaration.

References:

2020 Shia Sunni Alliance Event at ADAMS Center
Muslim Scholars Work Toward Unity at SSAF Retreat
www.washingtondeclaration.us

Sincerely,

Imam Mohamed Magid
Executive Imam
ADAMS Center
Sayyid M. B. Kashmiri
Jurist Representative
I.M.A.M.

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