Nanaimo’s Muslim community gathered for Friday prayers and then said extra prayers for those who died or were injured at mosques in New Zealand earlier in the day.
Muslims and a handful of non-Muslims were at the Islamic Centre of Nanaimo on Friday for the Jumu’ah prayer.
Earlier on Friday, in Christchurch, New Zealand, 49 people were killed and dozens were injured in shootings at two mosques.
Noor Islam, vice-president of the Islamic Centre of Nanaimo, said he is very saddened by the act of violence.
“Our hearts go out for the people who got killed in this incident and their families and loved ones. And also, our heart goes out for the loved ones who got injured in this incident and we pray … for their speedy recovery,” Islam said. “We also pray for the forgiveness of the person who has committed this crime. He may have committed it in ignorance.”
Friday’s khutba, or weekly lecture, was about mercy and how it can sometimes be disguised as hardship.
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