United Friday Prayer of Solidarity – “Our Three Winners”

For Imams, Community Leaders and Khatibs:

Asalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah,

In response to the murder of our beloved brother and sisters in Chapel Hill, a group of dedicated activists, leaders, scholars and Imams (in an unprecedented manner) have come together working to honor “Our Three Winners”.

Updated:

American Muslim Scholars & Leaders Send Condolences to families of #OurThreeWinners Families of #ChapelHillShooting Victims, Encourage Charity, Call for Investigation as a Hate Crime

http://www.FeedTheirLegacy.com/Statement

We would love to have your involvement and to sign off on it!

We also look forward to contact you in the future how to keep this momentum of solidarity going by joining in efforts like this so we can unite our communities with blessed efforts.

Lastly, we request your prayers.

[divider]-[/divider]

With Friday approaching, and Jumuah prayer near, we call all masajid to stand together in a United Jumuah Khutbah: “Our Three Winners.”

We have put together suggested talking points for you to consider as you write your sermon. It is our hope that this effort will allow for a nationally unified Khutbah honoring Deah, Yusor and Razan.

#ChapelHillShooting Friday Sermon Talking Points and Suggested Topics:

1. Condemn this act of senseless violence.
2. How these threeindividuals embodiedIslamic concepts of charity andwere driven byIslamic teachings, being a good neighbor citizen, and being in the service of humanity.
   • Talking points that will aid in highlighting  about their contributions. Please give details about the work that all three respectively did and highlight it with examples of the Quran and Sunnah, in the example of the life of the Prophet and the righteous, so that different communities will be able to hear more specifics about their personal narrative rather than a cursory sentence or two that alludes to the work that they do.  (For reference: http://bit.ly/1yt190M)
3. Facing hatred with compassion: “Mercy to the World” the Prophetic example, as well as being proactive in your community.
4. Emphasize that we need to show in our actions the values we stand for, and speaking against all forms of injustice and oppression.
5. Remind US Muslims that the early Muslims faced this type of hatred and oppression – and give examples of how they were guided by the Prophet  in seeking solace and steadfastness.
6. Emphasize that this tragedy has brought us together in unprecedented unity and solidarity – this is the effect of faith in action. With hardships Allah brings to us ease.
7. Emphasize that Muslim Scholars, Leaders, and Activists are together in solidarity and this is a time to unite to face the difficulties we must face together as a community.
8. Emphasize staying vigilant, seeking strength in our faith, against the goal of Islamophobia to instill fear and intimidation.
9. Do not focus your sermon on the killer – stay on the topic of the students and their contributions to society during their life.
10. Suggest strategies (http://bit.ly/1z9OOzW)  for coping with Islamophobia, xenophobia, bigotry, racism, etc.
11. Build on Muslim Advocates suggestions for reporting hate crimes. Link here: http://bit.ly/1KPSTRg
12. Suggest resources for local mental health services for those who need grief counseling and how to deal with trauma, anxiety, fear, etc.
13. Encourage our youth, in particular those who are visibly Muslim (who wear hijab, kufis, etc.) to be cautious when out late and/or alone but not give in to paranoia or excessive fear.

Grief Counseling Resources

http://www.complicatedgrief.org/

http://www.compassionatefriends.org/home.aspx

http://www.griefshare.org/

1-800-NASEEHA