The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) has strongly condemned the attack on on the Shia mosque in Samarra, Iraq. The attack on a Masjid, a house of Allah is clearly a wicked action caused by nothing but corruption of the heart. "Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you… and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?" -Qur'an (5:91).
We stand in solidarity with the Shia community here in the U.S. and abroad. The core articles of faith for Sunnis and Shias are the same. Both believe in Allah (swt), Muhammad (S), and the Qur'an. The theological differences that do exist between the two should not be used as a cover to perpetuate violence in order to gain political objectives. Islamic teachings emphasize having respect for places of worship and for the sanctity of human life.
We call on religious communities throughout the world to hold seminars on the importance of religious tolerance. In these troubled times we believe it is worshipers of God who should step forward to establish peace and understanding.
