I Can't Breathe and other poems

Letter to Victims of Christchurch Mosque Massacre

Beloved brothers and sisters, relatives and families of those who suffered at the hands of a terrorist in Christchurch, New Zealand

Peace be with you and the mercy of the all- merciful Lord!

I stand with you in grief at the passing of your loved ones; I cannot comprehend the hate that led to such an atrocity and I do not pretend that I can feel as you do at the loss of your loved ones.

Let your hearts grieve, and your eyes shed tears for it is a sign of love and affection that God has blessed you with.

And in your grief, acknowledge the incredible power and might of the Almighty, in whose hands is the dominion of the heavens and earth; the determination of our days and nights and the final decision about where and how and when we will return to Him. "He is the one who gives life and causes death; and to Him is your return"

With your heavy hearts for your loved ones, be hopeful that their faith, their small acts of kindness and God's mercy have secured them a good resting place.

And from time to time, reach beyond the present, open a page in your book of memory and relive a moment of joy or even of sadness.

Feel the pang in your heart, shed a tear and quietly say a prayer. The prayer for the deceased by loved ones reaches them, as do good deeds done in their name. It will ascend the heavens and bring some comfort or relief to a soul in need.

Then turn your gaze again to the present and muster all your courage to live a full life, to walk tall with courage and compassion, and the certainty of a reunion whose time and place are yet unknown.

Your very heartbeat as you read this is enough to give you hope in life's small triumphs; hope in God's limitless Mercy and His readiness to forgive.

As for him who has steeped to the very lowest in robbing you of a dear parent, brother, sister or child - know that God Almighty is aware of his actions; his very act of hate has already generated so much love even amongst strangers; his desire to extinguish the flame of Islam has provided light to those who were previously unaware of it; his atrocity has resulted in prime ministers and laymen to hear, perhaps for the first time, the beautiful Islamic call to prayer.

Surely, Allah is aware of your grief, your anxieties and your fears. But rest assured that He is also aware of, and powers the resilience that you are capable of. Live on with your memory, and turn your grief into productive acts of good.

Verily, He is with those who patiently persevere.

Br. Farhad Khadim
Director of Education
Islamic Institute of Torontk