The barbaric attacks on Coptic Christians on Palm Sunday in Egypt claimed by the so-called “Islamic State” are utterly condemned by the Islamic Center of Southern California.
We pray these innocent victims, our Christian brothers and sisters (and all innocent victims of terrorism no matter their faith) are accepted into the highest levels of paradise, and that God showers His mercy and comfort upon those who grieve their loss. We pray God gives speedy recovery and full recuperation to those who were injured.
The words below from our Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), expressed on the occasion of his visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery in the year 628 are seemingly not ones that ISIS has read.
Let all good people work harder to eradicate the evil that ISIS represents.
“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.
Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, 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 removed 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 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 fight for them.
If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting 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 nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”
This is an official statement from the Islamic Center of Southern California.