My Statement on the Violence at the Islamic Center in San Diego, California

Stop Shooting! Stop the Killing! Stop the Violence!

Arabic Text
“مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ”

Subscribe

Transliteration
Man ra’aa minkum munkaran falyughayyirhu biyadihi, fa’in lam yastati’ fa bilisanihi, fa’in lam yastati’ fa biqalbihi, wa dhaalika ad’aful-imaan.

In English:

“Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he is unable to do so, then with his heart, and that is the weakest level of faith.”

Source: Sahih Muslim 49

On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Islamic Center of San Diego in California was attacked by violent gunmen bent on killing all the Muslims-men, women, and children.

I am outraged over the murder of our Muslim brothers Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad at Islamic Center’s spiritual space and school by two violent gunmen filled with White supremacy and Islamophobia.

Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad are real life heroes. Alhamdulillah (Arabic for Praise be to God), for our Muslim brothers Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad. They sacrifice their lives to protect many other Muslims from being murdered at the Masjid (Arabic for Mosque) by the killers.

As a father of four, I sympathize with the families that have lost loved ones to senseless violence. My heart goes out to them. May Allaah (Arabic word for the Creator of all the worlds) comfort their hearts in this time of loss. Aameen. May Allaah forgive Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad of their sins and reward them all with jannat ul Firdous (Arabic for the highest levels of gardens of paradise)! Ameen.

According to CNN’s Emma Tucker, Elizabeth Wolfe and Taylor Romine, “authorities believe the shooters “exchanged radicalized ideology,” police said. Remily [Mark Remily, the special agent in charge of FBI San Diego] said authorities are working to figure out how the radicalization happened. A “manifesto” was recovered by law enforcement, which covered “a wide aspect of races and religions,” according to Remily. Hate speech was also found scrawled on one of the weapons used in the attack, and a suicide note contained writings about racial pride, officials said.” Remily continued saying, “a photo taken by The Associated Press that shows the vehicle where the shooters were found dead on Monday includes a red gas canister with a Nazi symbol emblazoned on it that looks to have been removed from the car. The attackers shared a live video of the shooting as well as a lengthy written document citing racist, Islamophobic and antisemitic ideology.”

(https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/us/live-news/san-diego-islamic-center-shooting?cid=ios_app)

As a society, we must work hard to organize humanity to condemn and eradicate White supremacy, racism, and Islamophobia from all communities. These disgusting ideologies perpetuate division, hate, fear, exploitation, marginalization, inequality, senseless killings, oppression, and distort factual history.

Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele

-Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele is a community activist, a member of the Muslim community in New Jersey, and a member of ASCAC (the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations). He is also a history and Africana Studies (Black Studies ) teacher at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ.

As Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh (Arabic for May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you)! Hotep (an ancient African Kemetic / Egyptian word for Peace)! P.E.A.C.E. (Proper Education Always Corrects Errors)!