”And who is more unjust than that person who prohibits the name of Allah being mentioned in the mosques of Allah, and strives to destroy them? (Whereas) It was appropriate for them to enter the mosque fearfully. For them there is disgrace in the world, and for them there is a great torment in the hereafter.” (Qur’an 2:114)
Massacre at Al-Rawdah Mosque: WAAG UK and Al-Azhar Grand Imam condemn terrorist attack
WAAG UK joins the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in condemning the brutal massacre that took place in Sinai during the Friday Prayer.
On Friday 24th November, during the Friday Prayer, the Al-Rawdah Mosque in the Sinai peninsula of Egypt was targeted by terrorists. The terrorists detonated a suicide bomb inside the mosque, then gunned down any survivors including those fleeing, shooting at ambulances and setting fire to cars in an attempt to block roads. The brutal massacre took the innocent lives of over 300 people including children, and injured over 120 people.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad Al-Tayyeb Shaykh al-Azhar, in a statement strongly condemned the barbaric and heinous terrorist attack, stressing that shedding the blood of the vulnerable, terrorising the worshippers, and violating the sanctity of mosques, and other places of worship, are all forms of corruption. The Grand Imam said that the terrorists and their sponsors should be dealt with in the most severe manner possible.
The Grand Imam stated: “Terrorists are now targeting mosques after they had targeted churches,” adding, “if terrorists want to disunite Egyptians by death and destruction, then let it be known that the unity of the Egyptians will triumph.”
Shaykh al-Azhar further stressed that Al-Azhar and the Egyptian people support the state’s institutions, particularly the Armed Forces and the police, in their efforts to eliminate terrorism in the country. He concluded his statement by offering a prayer for those affected: “Al-Azhar is praying to God to accept those killed as martyrs, and provide strength to their families, and bless the injured with quick recovery.”
The Vice-President of the UK Branch of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG UK), Bakhtyar Pirzada al-Azhari, issued the following statement: “In the blessed month in which the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was born, attacking the place of worship which has been appointed by Allah to praise His name, as well as attacking those worshippers who glorify His name during one of the most sacred prayers in Islam, the Friday Prayer, is clearly an action conflicting with, and totally contradicting the fundamentals of Islam aimed at destroying its core. The attack demonstrates that terrorism has no religion.”
He further added: “We are deeply saddened, shocked and horrified at the attack that took place in Sinai. WAAG UK stands in solidarity with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the people of Egypt in condemning this vile attack on innocent lives. WAAG UK joins the Grand Imam in praying for the martyrs, their families and those injured. May Allah protect Egypt and its welcoming citizens who host thousands of students from all over the globe in the Grand University of Al-Azhar, and may the mission of the Grand Imam in eradicating extremist ideologies succeed.”
