Dear Brown family,
On behalf of the St. Louis
Muslim community, which is comprised of 18 Islamic Centers, and over 100,000
thousand Muslims from every ethnic background in the world, we would like to
share our condolences regarding the loss of Michael Brown.
We know that unarmed black men
are killed at an alarming rate in this country. We recognize that all life has
value. We also recognize that the officer has a right to due process.
The Prophet Muhammad once said
we must “help our brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed… [We
should help the oppressor] by preventing him from oppressing
others.” We thank the FBI for launching a parallel investigation
into the shooting of Michael Brown and hope that a thorough investigation will
be completed, the truth will be disclosed, and justice will be served.
We will pray and stand with the
Ferguson community in this time of much needed healing. The Holy Qur’an tells
us that humanity is like one body, when one part of it is in pain, the whole
body should wake up in a feverish state. Islam is a way of life that invites
all of humanity to it in order to establish justice, build meaningful
brotherhood of all people, and worship God alone with no partners. We the
Muslim community in Saint Louis share your family’s pain. Your family’s sorrow
is our sorrow.
We pray that the Most Merciful
strengthens your family and the St. Louis community with patience to endure
this sad time. We wish you peace and safety.
Sincerely,
The
Saint Louis Muslim Community
Adil
Imdad, Chairman of West Pine Islamic Center
Dr.
Aniyu Jimoh, President of West Florissant Islamic Center
Dr.
Bahar Bastani, President of Shia Islamic Center
Dr.
Ferrahs Abdel-Basit, Board Member of Dar Al Jalal Islamic Center
Dr.
Helal Ekramuddin, President of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis
Dr.
Mujtiba Qazi, Presidet of Missouri Muslims for Civic Engagement
Faizan
Syed, Executive Director of the St. Louis Chapter of the Council on American
Islamic Relations
Imam
Aboo Muawiyah, Grand Islamic Center
Imam
Ahmed Serdarevic, St. Louis Islamic Center Nur
Imam
Council of Greater St. Louis
Imam
Envir Kunic, Bosnian Islamic Center
Imam
Mohammed Hasic, Islamic Community Center
Myra
Ekram, President of the Muslim Youth of St. Louis
Raed
Abuhamda, Al-Manara Academy Football Club
The
Chief of STLIslam.com
The
Board of the Downtown Islamic Information Center
Tim
Kaminski, President of the Masjid Qouba Foundation
Umar
Lee, Author and Evening-Whirl Columnist
Yumna
Ali, Executive Director of the Islamic Information Center of St. Louis