By Easwaran Rutnam
The deadly Easter Sunday attacks carried out in the name of Islam were condemned not just by leaders of other religions, but by Muslims as well.
Moderate Muslims all over Sri Lanka were outraged over the suicide attacks and the authorities’ failure to take action despite the raised concerns over Zahran Hashim’s activities in Kattankudy, where he was based.
Federation of Civil Society Organisations, Kattankudy President M.B.M. Firthous told The Sunday Morning that Hashim was like any ordinary Muslim preacher.
However, after 2014, he became radical and spoke with hate and promoted extremism.
“When he was here, he had only a small group of followers. Around 50-75 followers,” he said.
In 2017, a public meeting organised by Hashim resulted in clashes between two groups and 11 suspects were arrested.
However, Firthous said that Hashim fled the town and was not seen publicly ever since.
Firthous said that Hashim used Facebook to continue his radical teachings and promoted the Islamic State.
“We and several other organisations had, on several occasions, raised concerns over his activities to the Police but nothing was done,” Firthous said.
He added that the magnitude of his planning and affiliations were not known, till now.
His actions have threatened to divide the Muslim community, but his home town stands united against extremism.
The Federation of Civil Society Organisations, Kattankudy said that the Muslims in Sri Lanka have always been peaceful and loyal to the country.
Islam does not promote hate
Through his teachings, Hashim attempted to promote hate. Muslim leaders say it is not part of the Holy Quran.
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama President Rizwe Mufti told The Sunday Morning that some Muslims are misled by others who have their own interpretations of the Holy Quran.
He also noted that it is important to respect the leadership of a country, similar to respecting your teachers in school.
There were reports suggesting that one of the goals of the extremists was to push for a separate Muslim state in Sri Lanka.
Mufti said that trying to take over a country or divide a country and make it into a Muslim state is not something that is promoted in Islam.
“There are Muslim countries with Muslim laws just as there are Christian countries. But one cannot force a country to become a Muslim country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen also expressed his firm rejection of the terrorist acts committed in Sri Lanka, which he said violate the sanctity of human life, and reiterated the principled position of the OIC against all forms of terrorism and extremism.
The OIC said that Othaimeen called on the authorities to identify and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
The Centre for Islamic Studies said that as Muslims, they are expected to show utmost compassion and tolerance to people of other faiths.
Christians especially occupy a very dear place in Muslim hearts, being the followers of one of the most revered prophets of Islam, Jesus (peace be upon him). In the Holy Quran, Christians are called the nearest to Muslims and praised for their piety and devotion. We know from the life story of Prophet Muhammad how he was assisted in his mission by Christians and how far he went to win their trust including giving a covenant guaranteeing their religious rights for all time.
“As such, it is shocking that a group of misguided extremists purporting to represent our noble and tolerant faith have chosen to commit this sacrilege in a place of worship and on a holy day held dear by Christians all over the world, taking over 200 innocent lives. What is also deplorable is the manner the terrorists struck in suicide attacks, especially since we all know that suicide, like the taking of innocent lives, is completely prohibited in Islam,” Centre for Islamic Studies President Ilyas Haniffa said.
The Centre for Islamic Studies also called on the Government to clamp down on all forms of extremism and terrorism and take severe action to annihilate hate cults at the earliest.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Civil Society asserted that the Easter Sunday attacks were against Islamic norms.
In a joint statement, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, the National Shoora Council, Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, Memon Association of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Jama’athe Islami, Lanka Minaret, Quadiriyathun Nabaviyyah Thareeqah, Nabaviyyah Islamic Youth Organisation, Sri Lanka Muslim Womens’ Conference, Muslim Ladies Study Circle, Colombo, Young Muslim Women’s League, and the All Ceylon Union of Muslim Youth League Front said they are horrified by the events of Easter Sunday 21 April 2019, which resulted in massive killing, destruction, and attack on innocent lives.
“This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of violence and aggression. Our hearts are profoundly troubled as we contend with the aftermath of this horrific act of violence and terror,” the joint statement said.
The Muslim Civil Society categorically stated that extremism in the name of Islam does not represent the religion.
“Vicious acts of terror and the sudden slaughter of innocent citizens living in peace are extremely distressing and deplorable. We are ashamed at the barbarism perpetrated in the name of Islam, which is a religion of peace and tolerance. We express unity with the victims’ relatives and will do whatever it takes to help the affected people,” the joint statement added.
The Muslim civil society also noted unequivocally that neither the National Thowheed Jamath nor those that carried out the attack represent Islam or reflect Muslim beliefs and practice.
“Rather, groups like them have misused and abused Islam in order to fit their own radical and indeed anti-Islamic agenda and are criminal, misguided, and counter to the true teachings of Islam,” the joint statement added.
As Sri Lankan Muslims, the Muslim civil society restated their conviction that peace and justice constitute the basic principles of the Muslim faith.
“As Sri Lankan Muslims, we are united against all those who terrorise the innocent. Islam has declared the spilling of blood and the destruction of property as absolute prohibitions,” they said.
The deadly Easter Sunday attacks carried out in the name of Islam were condemned not just by leaders of other religions, but by Muslims as well.
Moderate Muslims all over Sri Lanka were outraged over the suicide attacks and the authorities’ failure to take action despite the raised concerns over Zahran Hashim’s activities in Kattankudy, where he was based.
Federation of Civil Society Organisations, Kattankudy President M.B.M. Firthous told The Sunday Morning that Hashim was like any ordinary Muslim preacher.
However, after 2014, he became radical and spoke with hate and promoted extremism.
“When he was here, he had only a small group of followers. Around 50-75 followers,” he said.
In 2017, a public meeting organised by Hashim resulted in clashes between two groups and 11 suspects were arrested.
However, Firthous said that Hashim fled the town and was not seen publicly ever since.
Firthous said that Hashim used Facebook to continue his radical teachings and promoted the Islamic State.
“We and several other organisations had, on several occasions, raised concerns over his activities to the Police but nothing was done,” Firthous said.
He added that the magnitude of his planning and affiliations were not known, till now.
His actions have threatened to divide the Muslim community, but his home town stands united against extremism.
The Federation of Civil Society Organisations, Kattankudy said that the Muslims in Sri Lanka have always been peaceful and loyal to the country.
Islam does not promote hate
Through his teachings, Hashim attempted to promote hate. Muslim leaders say it is not part of the Holy Quran.
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama President Rizwe Mufti told The Sunday Morning that some Muslims are misled by others who have their own interpretations of the Holy Quran.
He also noted that it is important to respect the leadership of a country, similar to respecting your teachers in school.
There were reports suggesting that one of the goals of the extremists was to push for a separate Muslim state in Sri Lanka.
Mufti said that trying to take over a country or divide a country and make it into a Muslim state is not something that is promoted in Islam.
“There are Muslim countries with Muslim laws just as there are Christian countries. But one cannot force a country to become a Muslim country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen also expressed his firm rejection of the terrorist acts committed in Sri Lanka, which he said violate the sanctity of human life, and reiterated the principled position of the OIC against all forms of terrorism and extremism.
The OIC said that Othaimeen called on the authorities to identify and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
The Centre for Islamic Studies said that as Muslims, they are expected to show utmost compassion and tolerance to people of other faiths.
Christians especially occupy a very dear place in Muslim hearts, being the followers of one of the most revered prophets of Islam, Jesus (peace be upon him). In the Holy Quran, Christians are called the nearest to Muslims and praised for their piety and devotion. We know from the life story of Prophet Muhammad how he was assisted in his mission by Christians and how far he went to win their trust including giving a covenant guaranteeing their religious rights for all time.
“As such, it is shocking that a group of misguided extremists purporting to represent our noble and tolerant faith have chosen to commit this sacrilege in a place of worship and on a holy day held dear by Christians all over the world, taking over 200 innocent lives. What is also deplorable is the manner the terrorists struck in suicide attacks, especially since we all know that suicide, like the taking of innocent lives, is completely prohibited in Islam,” Centre for Islamic Studies President Ilyas Haniffa said.
The Centre for Islamic Studies also called on the Government to clamp down on all forms of extremism and terrorism and take severe action to annihilate hate cults at the earliest.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Civil Society asserted that the Easter Sunday attacks were against Islamic norms.
In a joint statement, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, the National Shoora Council, Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, Memon Association of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Jama’athe Islami, Lanka Minaret, Quadiriyathun Nabaviyyah Thareeqah, Nabaviyyah Islamic Youth Organisation, Sri Lanka Muslim Womens’ Conference, Muslim Ladies Study Circle, Colombo, Young Muslim Women’s League, and the All Ceylon Union of Muslim Youth League Front said they are horrified by the events of Easter Sunday 21 April 2019, which resulted in massive killing, destruction, and attack on innocent lives.
“This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of violence and aggression. Our hearts are profoundly troubled as we contend with the aftermath of this horrific act of violence and terror,” the joint statement said.
The Muslim Civil Society categorically stated that extremism in the name of Islam does not represent the religion.
“Vicious acts of terror and the sudden slaughter of innocent citizens living in peace are extremely distressing and deplorable. We are ashamed at the barbarism perpetrated in the name of Islam, which is a religion of peace and tolerance. We express unity with the victims’ relatives and will do whatever it takes to help the affected people,” the joint statement added.
The Muslim civil society also noted unequivocally that neither the National Thowheed Jamath nor those that carried out the attack represent Islam or reflect Muslim beliefs and practice.
“Rather, groups like them have misused and abused Islam in order to fit their own radical and indeed anti-Islamic agenda and are criminal, misguided, and counter to the true teachings of Islam,” the joint statement added.
As Sri Lankan Muslims, the Muslim civil society restated their conviction that peace and justice constitute the basic principles of the Muslim faith.
“As Sri Lankan Muslims, we are united against all those who terrorise the innocent. Islam has declared the spilling of blood and the destruction of property as absolute prohibitions,” they said.