22 March 2019, Hagley Park, Chrstchurch, New Zealand
Brothers and sisters in Islam, brothers and sisters in humanity, brothers and sisters in New Zealand.
Last Friday, I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed fifty innocent people, wounded 42, and broke the heart of millions around the world.
Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings from across the globe that fill the hearts of millions more who are not with us physically, but in spirit.
This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology that has torn the world apart.
But instead, we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable and that the world can see in us an example of love and unity.
We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive! We are together! We are determined to not let anyone divide us.
We are determined to love one another and to support each other.
This evil ideology of white supremacy did not strike us first, yet it has struck us hardest.
The number of people killed is not ordinary but the solidarity in New Zealand is extraordinary.
To the families of the victims, your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope.
Through them, the world will see the beauty of Islam and the beauty of our unity.
[prayer interlude]
Do not say of those who have been killed in the way of Allah that they are dead.
They are alive! Rejoicing with their Lord.
They were the best of us, taken from us on the best of days, in the best of places, and performing the best of actions.
They are not just martyrs of Islam, but they are martyrs of this nation, New Zealand!
Our loss of you is a gain to New Zealand's unity and strength.
Your departure is an awaking not just for our nation, but for all humanity.
Your martyrdom is a new life for New Zealand and a chance of prosperity for many.
Our assembly here, with all the shades of our diversity, is a testament of our joint humanity.
We are here in our hundreds and thousands unified for one purpose — that hate will be undone and love will redeem us.
We are taught by our prophet, Mohamed, that you can never truly show gratitude to the almighty God without thanking your fellow man.
To the people of New Zealand, thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you for your tears. Thank you for your haka. Thank you for your flowers. Thank you for your love and compassion.
To our Prime Minister, thank you. Thank you for your leadership — it has been a lesson for the world's leaders.
Thank you for holding our families close and honouring us with a simple scarf.
Thank you for your words and tears of compassion. Thank you for being one with us.
Thank you to the New Zealand Government and to all the wonderful people who have shown us that we matter and are not forgotten.
Thank you to our police force and front-line services. You put our lives before your own every day.
Thank you to the neighbours who opened their doors to save us from the killer.
Thank you to those who pulled over their cars to help us.
Thank you to those who brought us food and helped us when we found it difficult to stand.
Thank you, thank you, New Zealand!
Thank you for teaching the world what it means to love and care.
To my brothers and sisters, those who are here today to perform the weekly Friday prayer, thank you for coming together once again.
It is easy to feel lost after the trauma you and I experienced. But the promise of Allah made to us is true.
Give glad news to the patient.
Those, when afflicted, they say to Allah, "We all belong", and to him we shall return.
These are those upon whom God's mercy descends.
Thank you for your strength and your forgiveness.
Thank you for your anger that is restrained and for your mercy that is overflowing.
Thank you for your steadfastness and standing tall when others would fall.
Thank you.