ADAMS condemns the ISIS threat against Churches in USA and Around the World

The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) condemns the ISIS threat against Churches in USA and around the world. We are outraged by these senseless threats and acts, and concerned about the safety and security of our brothers and sisters of the Christian community. ADAMS and our Muslim communities stand in solidarity with our Christian neighbors and Churches, pledge our support, and pray for their safety and security. We call upon law enforcement to have extra patrols and vigilance near Churches on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and in Synagogues in their celebration of Hanukkah. 
 
In the Holy Quran, Almighty God Says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion (2:256)”.  One of the most fundamental tenets of Islam as commanded by God is that no one can deny any Faith its right to exist.  We especially note the message personally sent by Prophet Muhammad to the Christian monks of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Mount Sinai: 
 
“This is a message written by Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, far and near: we are behind them. Verily, I defend them by myself, the servants, the helpers, and my followers, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be changed from their jobs, nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they (Christians) are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to defend for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, this is not to take place without her own wish. She is not to be prevented from going to her Church to pray. Their Churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the (Muslim) nation is to disobey this covenant till the Day of Judgment and the end of the world.”
 
This has been a bedrock of our faith for 14 centuries, and no fallacious and abhorrent schism like ISIS can ever change this sacred duty. As we have repeatedly noted, Islam holds that the taking of even a single innocent life is equivalent to killing all of humanity – a concept very familiar and similar to Jewish and Christian teaching.  Especially at a time when so many billions of people worldwide are preparing for the impending holiday season, such wanton acts completely disgrace all those who perpetrate them, especially when they falsely claim to be in the name of God and religion.  
 
May our commitment and compassion hasten the day when all peoples of every faith (and indeed, of no faith at all) will live together in understanding, harmony and peace.  All those who oppose such peace and harmony should know we all stand together to oppose such horrific violence, and categorically condemn any who feel that violence could ever and in any way be a solution to the problems of today’s world.  
 
We pray that the spirit of these holidays and the coming of the new year will help us all to see that these despicable threats are simply a shameful effort to divide our communities and to promote hate, instead of the peace and harmony that should underpin every religion and every community.   
References:
Marrakesh Declaration supporting religious minorities in Muslim majority countries.
http://www.marrakeshdeclaration.org/marrakesh-declaration.html
 Christian & Muslim Interfaith Event for Pakistani Christians – Better Relations between Christians & Muslims http://www.viennaconnection.com/documents/2014/dec/09/viennaoakton-connection-dec-10-2014/
 All Dulles Area Muslim Society focus on Religious Freedom Around The World
https://www.adamscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ADAMS_RELIGIOUSFREEDOM.pdf
 ADAMS hosted US Muslim & Christian Coalition (MCC) Inaugural Dinner and Fundraiser for Iraqi Christian Refugees.https://www.facebook.com/hcef.peace/photos/a.147001795340086.21502.121007801272819/950227908350800/?type=1&theater
ADAMS horrified by attacks in Germany, Jordan, Switzerland, and Turkey
Deepest Sympathy for Cairo Coptic Christian and Muslim Community and Law Enforcement officials, for Nigerian Christian Community, and for Muslim Community in Turkey
 Muslims are the largest victims of worldwide terrorism and suffer between 82 and 97 percent of terrorism-related fatalities.http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2011/195555.htm
 Sep 10/11, 2014 – Voice of America – US Muslim Leaders Condemn ISIS

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