A wall of flowers,
Four-year-old Hudayfa Hamza doesn’t know why there are flowers outside his Wellington mosque.
He doesn’t know why there are strangers crying on the steps, or why there are armed police nearby.
‘‘He isn’t aware of what has happened,’’ his father Hamza Salah Ahmed says looking at his son. ‘‘He’s only young.’’
Yesterday afternoon, members of the Wellington Islamic community gathered together to begin their normal prayer routines after Friday’s terrorist attack in Christchurch which left 50 dead – including 3-year-old Mucad Ibrahim.
Police had urged all mosques across the country to close their doors after the attack. In main centres, armed police stood guard as the sites became a public place for mourners to gather.
Restrictions were eased in the capital yesterday but police still kept a presence as men and women slowly made their way into the Kilbirnie mosque, weaving their way through flowers and wellwishers.
Hearing the call for prayer for Tahir Nawaz was a welcoming noise. ‘‘It is a great feeling. The mosque should be used for events like this – when we need more peace and connection with the Lord.’’
The president of the International Muslim Association of New Zealand, Nawaz said he had been overwhelmed by the growing sea of flowers outside the building.
‘‘Each flower with its story has a separate message from the inner heart,’’ he said. ‘‘Those messages touch us. These are coming from the real New Zealand people. We live in aroha, love, peace. We can never win with hate.’’
Since Friday, people from around the region had come to pay their respects – often arriving as strangers but leaving as friends. As well as flowers, there were boxes filled with cards, and also food and money which had been donated. ‘‘These people have never been to the mosque, they never met us but they are becoming close friends.
‘‘We are more closer and our bonds more stronger ... The whole nation is supporting us and helping us. We will all be more stronger.’’
Asif Koya, a member of the
local community, said it ‘‘meant a lot’’ to be back in the normal prayer routine. It would take time for members to be less fearful, he said. ‘‘In Wellington we have never felt unsafe but now, based on what has happened, it makes us reflect.
‘‘It will be in the back of our mind, for a short time at least. I know that will not stop people coming to pray.’’
One day little Hudayfa Hamza will learn about what happened in Christchurch, but for now he is back learning how to pray in his mosque.
‘‘I am not worried about him,’’ his father says. ‘‘We are Muslims and this is all in God’s hands.’’