بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ـ
In the name of Allah Most Merciful Most Compassionate
On behalf of the Muslim
Community in Blacksburg, and as members of the Blacksburg and VT communities
we express our condolences to the families and friends of the innocent
victims that we lost yesterday.
I stand here today to
tell you that we are all in pain. All of us here, the children of Adam and
eve, we all unite in pain and we are all hurt.
Death strikes every day
all over the world ... we see it on Television ... we hear and read about in the
media ... but when it hits home ... we feel its intensity ... and we recognize its
reality.
Nor
does any one know what it is that he/she will earn tomorrow: Nor does any
one know in what land he/she is to die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge
and He is acquainted with all things.
Death strikes home ...
when we least expect it ... to remind us of the only fact of life that we all
subscribe to ...
Rich or poor ... young or
old ... strong or weak ... ill or well ... in the battle field or in the classroom
...
It comes to remind us
of how vulnerable we are ... no matter what we do ... no matter how much
security we have ... no matter what we believe in ... it will happen.
Some would say it does
not have to happen this way. I remind myself and remind them that there is
a creator with wisdom beyond our comprehension and with mercy and compassion
far beyond our appreciation.
"To
Allah We belong, and to Him is our return"
I pray to God that this
one incident will not change the character of our peaceful and friendly town
and university.
I pray to God that the
quality of life that we all enjoy and will continue to enjoy in this
community will continue to attract new students to our university, attract
professionals to make this place their home and continue to retire here.
Finally, we should not
let this tragedy make us loose confidence in our great law enforcement
officers. They have kept our community safe and provided for the great
quality of life we all enjoy at this university and in this town. We know
them as diligent and dedicated professionals. Even a singularity of this
immense magnitude should never overshadow all the good work these great men
and women have done to make this community so safe and so enjoyable.
I conclude with the
Islamic greeting of peace, Wassalamu
Alaykum.
![[Company Logo Image]](../../images/islamview.gif)
