Ummah T&T Muslim Lobby Group condemns the attack and murder of 49 people by a deranged man who is being labelled as "Muslim," over the weekend in Orlando, Florida, USA.
Our group states categorically that this horrendous incident and other similar occurrences, do not represent our noble way of life, ie Islam, nor the more than 1.5 billion men and women who adhere to the lofty principles of peace and submission to the Creator, who is one and has no partners or associates.
Indeed, Ummah T&T is alarmed that our way of life, which abhors unprovoked violence and stresses the virtues of dialogue and moderation in all of our activities, should be defined by these random acts of senselessness.
We call on all Islamic organisations and their leaders to stand up and show testicular fortitude in speaking out forcefully against the deviance and misguidance fuelling the radicalism which had slipped into our religion.
Ummah T&T believes that the one who hesitates in condemning what is unlawful in Islamic Shari'ah, namely to hijack public places, kill innocent people, both Muslims and non-Muslims without discrimination, to terrorise the society and disrupt public life, then it is known by necessity that he has a disease in his heart.
Our group believes that those who take innocent lives and terrorise society, they are not followers of our noble Prophet Muhammad (Upon Whom Be Peace), whose greatest qualities were forbearance, patience and maintaining dignity and honour in the face of abuse, and placing one's reliance on Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, the best disposer of affairs.
The lifestyle of Muhammad (UWBP), and verses of the Qur'an explicitly denounce groups such as Boko Haram, Isis, and Al-Qa'idah, and their murderous ideologies. These miscreants, whom we consider extreme renegades, have actually killed exponentially more Muslims in the past 20 years than they have harmed non-Muslims in the past 20 years.
Ummah T&T believes that our leaders must do more to educate our brothers and sisters on the dangers of being misled and who are susceptible to falling into the trap laid by maniacs who use religion to cause mayhem and havoc.
We emphasise that Islam is not a religion of hate, discrimination or violence but instead espouse equality, respect for one another's beliefs and good behaviour as demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad, the messenger of Allah, the Most High, and Exalted.
Our prayers go out to the grieving families who lost their loved ones and offer best wishes for a speedy recovery of those hospitalised with injuries sustained in the attack.
Imam Rasheed Karim
Chairman