The Director, as-Sudays, also stressed that Islaam’s teachings treat the sanctity of people’s lives as a very serious matter and its teachings seek to protect them.

Director of General Presidency for Affairs of al-Masjid al-Haraam and the Prophet’s Masjid states that targeting of two New Zealand mosques is a terrible crime in a chain of reckless acts of terrorism and turmoil.

The Director of the General Presidency for Affairs of al-Masjid al-Haraam and the Prophet’s Masjid, his eminence ash-Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez as-Sudays, issued a statement on his behalf as well as on behalf of all the Imaams, Khateebs, scholars, teachers, and staff at al-Masjid al-Haraam and the Prophet’s Masjid. In it, he condemned the terrorist attacks in which two New Zealand mosques were targeted. He underscored that what took place constituted a crime and an act of corruption, hostility, terrorism, and oppression.

His eminence cited the statements of Allaah, the Most Exalted, “You must not take the life of anyone whom Allaah has forbidden, unless he is proven guilty of a crime which merits punishment”—Quran 6:151, as well as, “If someone deliberately kills a believer, his recompense will be the hellfire where he shall dwell permanently, and Allaah will be angry with him, expel him from His mercy, and prepare for him a severe torment”—Quran 4:93.

His eminence also cited the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “The entire world coming to an end is less significant to Allaah than the life of a Muslim being taken without right.”

The Director of the General Presidency called for people to fulfill Allaah’s commands and avoid His prohibitions, and to also beware of all acts of crime, violence, and terrorism since these are tremendous evils which demolish societies and their stability. Instances of terrorism like the ones perpetrated are deceitful criminal acts which opponents of Islaam utilize to make nations of the world an arena for carrying them out and they aim to have them happen even more in lands of Muslims, especially the Land of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Director further noted that unlawfully taking anyone’s life is oppression, aggression, and terrorism which completely contravenes Islaam’s teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated, “A person has much reason to continue hoping for Allaah to grant him mercy and direct him to perform righteous deeds, as long as he does not shed anyone’s blood unlawfully.”

The Director, as-Sudays, also stressed that Islaam’s teachings treat the sanctity of people’s lives as a very serious matter and its teachings seek to protect them.

His eminence called for people in general to beware of deviant ideologies. He also encouraged all people to work towards establishing safety in all its forms, especially when it comes to safeguarding people’s lives and wellbeing. He emphasized the gravity of making mosques, places of worship, and worshippers the targets of acts such as the recent atrocities that were perpetrated.

Mosques are to be maintained, populated for worship, and kept clear of anything that detracts from the message they fulfill; let alone be made a scene of crime, destruction, and violation of sanctity. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, “No one could be more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allaah from being mentioned in His mosques and strive to ruin them. Such people are not to enter them except in fear of Allaah’s punishment for their wrongdoing. In this world they will be subjected to humiliation, and in the hereafter they will face severe punishment”—Quran 2:114.

The Director of the General Presidency underscored that these terrorist acts will only serve to strengthen our unity and steadfastness. He remarked that by Allaah’s permission, the bullets of terrorism will fall when they hit the rock-solid mountain of the unity that exists among our leaders and general public.

In closing, his eminence prayed for Allaah to grant the deceased His mercy and forgiveness, and to be pleased with them. He prayed for the recovery and wellbeing of the injured, prayed for the leaders of Muslims, and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.

He prayed that the families be granted steadfastness, and that they be guided to seek Allaah’s reward by persevering through this difficult time.

He further prayed that Allaah protect this nation, as well as all lands of Muslims, from the hostility of opponents and the terrorism of the malicious who lie in wait for an opportunity to attack. He also implored Allaah to grant continued safety, security, stability, and tranquility to this nation, as well as all lands of Muslims, since Allaah is the One who hears all prayers and responds.