Don’t blame Islam for this latest terrorist outrage
Like millions of people around the world, I condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in London and the loss of life. My deepest condolences to all of the families of the victims.
There are no words to make sense of this cowardly attack or the ones happening throughout Europe. Like many, I too am worried about such an incident happening in Ireland.
As an imam, I will do everything in my power to help prevent such an attack on our streets and our cities and I will urge all the imams in Ireland to stand up and help me achieve this.
I must advise those who accuse Islam of being the cause of this: this thinking is unwarranted. Those who make such allegations are creating fear, hatred and ill-tolerance in Ireland. I know, I am the one who gets abused every time I am on radio by many Irish people who are not being fair on Islam.
They cherry-pick verses and don’t try to understand the context of the verses they quote. In most cases, many are simply using Google.
The fact is Islam does not tolerate terrorism at all, the Koran is full of hundreds of verses that talk about being righteous, tolerant and to never kill another human being.
Here are just two examples; Chapter 2, Verse 22: “Oh ye men, worship your lord who created you and those who were before you, that you may become righteous”. Or Chapter 3, Verse 111: “You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in Allah.”
One may ask how a righteous person can commit such evil acts when the Koran is telling Muslims to be righteous or God-fearing.
But fire and water cannot coexist together at the same time. Therefore, a Muslim cannot be a terrorist or a terrorist cannot be a Muslim. I urge tolerance and peace and to do justice before blaming Islam. Imam Ibrahim Noonan Imam of Galway Mosque