Muslim leaders: denounce murders
The shooting in Orlando was a terrible crime committed by a deranged individual. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this crime and their families and friends. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I condemn this mass murder as savage and completely against the teachings of Islam.
True Islam teaches that the murder of one life, regardless of differences of faith, race, gender, or sexual orientation, is like the murder of all of humanity and saving a life, irrespective of differences, is like saving all of humanity.
It is also the month of Ramadan, a month for fasting, prayer, self-reflection, self-reformation, and charitable acts. Instead of this, he chose to spill blood in the name of Islam and in allegiance to terrorist groups who teach that such deeds are rewarded when they are actually satanic in nature.
Muslim leaders need to stand united more than ever in denouncing these groups and their teachings just as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has taught for over a hundred years. We will continue to stand against such acts.
Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Muslim Writers’ Guild of America, Clovis
This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Muslim leaders: denounce murders."