Your news: Mosque's prayer vigil for victims of bomb attack

Following the tragic killing of 22 innocent people including children the The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association held a prayer vigil on Saturday, May 27 for the victims who were brutally killed by an individual’s evil act.

The vigil held at Noor Mosque in Langley Drive, Crawley was attended by councillors, ex-Mayor Brenda Smith and representatives from Christian, Hindu, Sri Lankan and other multifaith comunities and cultures.

The proceeding started with recitation of the Holy Quran by 14 year old Fateen Yassir. The Quran states: whosoever killed a person — unless it be for killing a person or for creating disorder in the land — it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and whoso gave life to one, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.ch 5 v 33.

Youth leader Atta-ul Quddus welcomed the guests and said: “It is important to share the grief of the nation and denounce the evil act of the individual who carried out this heinous crime.

“As British Muslims our children felt the same grief as the people of Manchester.”

Cllr Brenda Smith led the multifaith service by remembering the 22 killed and said: “We all stand united with the Ahmadiyya Muslim comunity and the rest of the nation and pray for the bereaved families.”

Speaking on a similar vein were Tim Lunnon the Labour candidate, Marko Specanovivlc from the Lib Dems as well as Ràja Nirendra from the Sri Lankan centre and Greme Wilson from the St. Hill Centre in East Grinstead.

Ahsan Ahmedi the Regional President said that he: “Stood in arms with the families of the bereaved with two emotions.

“Firstly anger that an invidual had used the name of my peaceful religion to carry out an evil act but also with a emotion of loyalty and love of Britain because how the nation was united against terrorism.

“Islam means peace and all other faiths promote love, so today we stand together as one and send a message of peace and love to the bereaved families, the people of Manchester and to all of Britain on behalf of Crawley.”

The vigil ended with a one minute silence followed by a silent prayer in which all participated. Nearly 100 in all participated.

Local President of The Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Crawley, Najeeb Rahman later said: “We are very honoured so many people came and shared this vigil with us because many of the victims were chidren and our children in the community wanted to share with their grief.

“Noor Mosque has always been promoting the message of ‘Love for all and Hatred for none’ and this vigil was to do just that.”

Henry Smith, Conservative candidate, earlier visited Noor Mosque to offer his sentiments as he was unable to attend due to other commitments.

- Noor Mosque children saw in the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan with a charity walk, raising £5,463.59 for Humanity First. Zakariyya, four, from Crawley, was the youngest fundraiser in the region and raised more than £700.

Other top fundraisers were Atta-ul-Wadood (£550), Salik Rehman (£501.13), Ayaan Ahmad (£411), and Faizan Ahmad (£332.02).

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