Defeat Hatred with Love

It was shocking to learn about Finsbury Park terror attack last month. It is extremely painful every time a terrorist act is committed and innocent lives are taken or people get hurt. These heinous acts not only affect the victims, their families, and friends with an irreparable loss but impact us all. They reflect increasing intolerance and divisions in our societies.

However, it was moving to see the response of city of London when hundreds of people showed up with flowers at the Finsbury Park mosque. London Police is investigating this attack as an act of terrorism. This is a step in the right direction as terrorism has no religion.

It is sad to read in news that some extremists have responded by urging UK to ‘cast Islam out of country’. Although their message is based on Islamophobia, it is hard to believe they want to justify such hate based ideologies with the so called logic ‘This is war...we have the right to fight back’. This statement makes it crystal clear that extremists of all backgrounds have a common ideology whereby they tend to justify all sorts of brutalities once they are radicalized in hatred.

To defeat rising intolerance and Islamophobia, it is important that we give this clear message to voices of division that terrorism has no place in our societies and terrorist is a terrorist regardless of any faith he may ascribe to. It is crucial that there be no room for inciting violence in our societies be it on any pretext. All forms of radicalization needs to be prevented. The Holy Qur’an guides us and states, “ And good and evil are not alike. Repel evil with that which is best” [41:35]. Thus, education is the best remedy. Let's defeat hatred by joining with love to educate all at TrueIslam.com.