Communities across the UK have come together over the last couple of days to express their grief and horror at the harrowing terror attack that took place at the Manchester Evening News Arena on Monday evening. The attack claimed the lives of 22 people with a further 69 injured. Many of those killed and injured in the attack were young children and teenagers.
Adding their voice to the streams of condolences over the attack were Imams, Scholars and Mosques who came out in numbers to share in the grief and show their resolve to stand as one community and continue working to provide support to those affected.
Manchester born Shaykh Bilal Brown said,
Imam Adam Kelwick, Muslim chaplain from Merseyside posted,
Wolverhampton based Shaykh Asim Yusuf, who is also a consultant psychiatrist wrote,
In a statement from Harun Khan on behalf of the Muslim Council of Britain, he wrote,
In a collective statement from the Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton and Stockport Councils of Mosques, they wrote,
The Greater Manchester Muslim Community is saddened and horrified by reports of yet another terror attack, this time in our very city at the Manchester Arena yesterday. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and our emergency services who are at the forefront of dealing with this tragic incident.
The full statement can be read here.
In addition to the messages of condolence and sadness from faith leaders, the tragic attack also showcased the incredible resilience of the people of Manchester and how the Muslim community (along with others) responded in numbers to help those most affected.
Reports came in about the incredible efforts of doctors and support staff in Manchester hospitals dealing with incoming trauma patients, of Muslim taxi drivers providing free fares to those caught up in the attacks and of local restaurants providing free meals to the police and emergency services who had worked through the night.
Despite the atrocious nature of the attack and the difficult time ahead for the families of those who lost their lives, we can take some heart from the way in which the attack galvanised people of all faiths, colours and creed from all over Manchester who put humanity before anything else and responded with such vigour to help in any way they can.
The response and resilience of the community in the aftermath of such attacks once again reiterates how committed we all are to ensuring the safety and security of those around us and our resistance against those that seek to deepen social fractures and sow hatred amongst friends.
We continue to send our deepest condolences and prayers to those injured and the families of those that lost their lives.
