El Noor and Linwood mosques were opened to worship together with Friday prayers after the mosque massacre in which 50 people were martyred last Friday in Christchurch, New Zealand.

After the terrorist attack, Friday prayers were performed at Hagley Park in Christchurch and imam Gamal Fouda read the first khutbah.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wears a headscarf during the commemoration ceremony. Upon Ardern's call, New Zealanders women came to the ceremony wearing a headscarf.

The message of unity and solidarity was given in the khutbah before the Friday prayer. Imam Gamal Fouda stressed that the martyrs are not a loss but gain and that their departure is an awakening.

 

The full speech of Al Noor mosque Imam Gamal Fouda is in follow:

Brothers and sisters in Islam, brothers and sisters in humanity, brothers, and sisters in New Zealand.

Last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed 50 people, wounded 48 and broke the hearts of millions around the world.

Today, from the same place I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings from across the globe who fill the hearts of millions who are not with us in physically but in spirit.

This terrorist tried to tear the nation apart with evil ideology.

Instead, we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable. And that the world can see in us an example of love and unity.

We are brokenhearted but we are not broken.

We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us.

We are determined to love one another and to support each other.

This evil ideology of white supremacy did not strike us first, yet it has struck us hardest. The number of people killed is not ordinary but the solidarity in New Zealand is extraordinary.

To the families of the victims, your loved ones did not die in vain.

Their blood has watered the seeds of hope.

Through this, the World will see the beauty of Islam and the beauty of our unity. 

And Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an: And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.

They were the best of us, taken from us on the best of days, in the best of places, and performing the best of actions.

They are not just martyrs of Islam, but they are martyrs of this nation, New Zealand.

Our loss of you is a gain to New Zealand’s unity. Your departure is an awakening not just for our nation, but for all humanity. 

Your martyrdom is a new life for New Zealand and a chance of prosperity for many. 

Our assembly here, with all the shades of our diversity, is a testament of our giant humanity.

We are here in our hundreds and thousands, unified for one purpose. That hate will be undone and love will redeem us.

We are told by our prophet, Mohammed - Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam-, that you can never truly show gratitude to Almighty God if you are incapable of loving your fellow man.

To the people of New Zealand, thank you for your tears. Thank you for your haka. Thank you for your flowers. Thank you for your love and compassion.

To our prime minister, thank you. Thank you for your leadership. It has been a lesson for the world’s leaders. 

Thank you for holding our families close, and honoring us with a simple scarf. 

Thank you for your words and tears of compassion. Thank you for being one with us. 

Thank you to the New Zealand government and to all the wonderful people who have shown us that we matter, and are not forgotten.

Thank you to our police force and frontline services. You put our lives before your own, every day. 

Thank you to the neighbors, for opening your doors to save us from the killer. 

Thank you to those who pulled over their cars to help us. 

Thank you to those who brought us food and helped us when we found it difficult to stand. 

Thank you, New Zealand, for teaching the world what it means to love and care.

To my brothers and sisters, those who are here today to perform the weekly Friday prayer, thank you for coming together once

again.

It is easy to feel lost after the trauma you and I experienced. But the promise of Allah made to us is true.

"But give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return."

Thank you for the anger that is restrained and your mercy that is overflowing. Thank you for your steadfastness.

Islamophobia kills. Muslims have felt its pain for years around the world.

It has killed before in Kanada. And its brutality was used against teens in Norway. And against innocent Muslims in the UK, USA and other

countries around the World.

Islamophobia is real.

It is a targeted campaign to dehumanize and irrationally fear Muslims.

To fear what we wear. The choice of food we eat. To fear the way we pray and the way we practice our faith.

We call on governments around the world, including New Zealand’s and its neighboring countries, to bring an end to hate

speech and the politics of fear.

The martyrdom of 50 people and the injury of 42 last Friday did not come overnight.

It was the result of the anti-Muslim rhetoric of some political leaders, media agencies and others.

Last week’s events are proof and evidence to the entire world that terrorism has no color, has no race and has no religion.

The rise of white supremacy and right-wing extremism is a great global threat to mankind and this must end now.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my Muslim and non-Muslim brothers and sisters for attending today. 

And I would like also to thank our international guests who have come to our support and aid in these difficult times.

O Allah, have mercy upon us all.

Oh, Allah, have mercy upon those who were massacred last week.

O Allah grants them in highs delivered of paradise.

O Allah grand to the injured a speedy recovery and grand to the families of the victims' patience.

O Allah, grand our nation and country of New Zealand with peace and security and protected it and its people from all evils.

O Allah, grand the entire World with peace, security, and prosperity.

O Allah protect New Zealand and protect New Zealanders and the entire World. (Ahmet Salim Çakar- ILKHA)