When news broke of the horrific terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Muslim community responded not with hatred but with a powerful display of faith, patience, and forgiveness rooted in the teachings of Islam. We visited Masjid Isa Ibn Maryam — the Jesus Son of Mary Mosque — in Queens, New York, where Muslim leaders and community members shared their heartfelt reactions, proving once again that Islam is a religion of peace and compassion even in the face of unspeakable violence.
The Double Standard: Why Islam Is Always Put on Trial
One of the most striking points raised in our discussion was the glaring double standard in how terrorism is reported. When the attacker has any perceived link to Islam, the entire faith of 1.8 billion people is put on trial. Yet when a self-identified Christian terrorist — one who played Serbian Chetnik nationalist anthems linked to historical crusades against Muslims — carried out this massacre, his religion was barely mentioned. Muslims are not asking that Christianity be blamed. They are asking for something far simpler: fairness and balance.
We don’t blame Christianity. We want people to be fair and balanced. There are extremists in every faith and every walk of life. We can’t fall into the trap of linking the action of an extremist to a specific faith — because that’s what they do to us, and that hurts us.
Islam’s Response: Forgiveness Over Revenge
- The Muslim at the door: One of the victims at the Christchurch mosque greeted the terrorist with the word “brother” — a testament to the Islamic values of brotherhood in humanity — before being gunned down.
- No retaliation: Islam strictly prohibits the killing of innocent people. Community leaders urged Muslims never to stoop to the level of extremists and terrorists, following the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who always responded to cruelty with dignity and mercy.
- Patience and prayer: Every person interviewed called for sabr (patience), prayer for the victims and their families, and trust in Allah’s ultimate justice on the Day of Judgment.
- Do not spread fear: Leaders advised Muslims not to share the attacker’s livestream video, warning that doing so only spreads terror further and frightens Muslim women and children from openly practicing their faith.
- Martyrdom and hope: Scholars reminded the community that those killed while worshipping in the mosque are considered martyrs in Islam — alive with their Lord — offering deep spiritual comfort grounded in the Quran.
A Wake-Up Call for Education and Outreach
This tragedy is also a powerful reminder that Muslims must step outside their comfort zones and engage with their neighbors. If the Christchurch terrorist had ever walked into a mosque and spoken to a single Muslim, he likely would have been invited to dinner, educated about the truth of Islam, and his heart may have been transformed. The Jesus Son of Mary Mosque in New York stands as living proof of this outreach — named specifically so passersby learn that Muslims love and revere Jesus, a fact most non-Muslims never hear. Many people have accepted Islam simply by reading that sign and walking through the door.
If Islam was a religion of extremism, with 1.8 billion followers the world would have been destroyed by now. The action of one does not define a faith. After every difficulty there is ease — put your trust in Allah, be patient, and know that true justice belongs to the Day of Judgment.
Standing Firm in Faith and Peace
The message from the Muslim community is clear: terrorism has no religion, and Islam will always survive and thrive no matter what forces rise against it. For those shaken in their faith by this attack, the advice is simple — wake up for Fajr, ground yourself in the teachings of Islam, and trust in the Creator. For everyone else, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, let this be the moment we commit to education over ignorance, forgiveness over vengeance, and peace over fear.
