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Speaking out against Chattanooga shootings

International Community of Submitters (ICS) / Masjid Tucson offers our sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the Chattanooga shootings.

The shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee by Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez which took the life of five service members and injured others were both senseless and evil. While the motive of the shooter remains unclear at the time of writing this editorial, we want readers to know that no religion of God could ever justify or condone violence against innocent people or any form of aggression.

The religion of Islam (Submission) forbids murder and terrorist attacks in all forms. The Quran teaches absolute freedom of religion (2:256, 18:29), and God makes it clear that life is sacred (6:151, 17:33, 25:68). The focus is on worship of God and seeking God's approval in our daily lives. Our worship is best attained in peace (2:126, 14:35). Submission (Islam) recognizes that salvation can be attained by anyone who believes in God, believes in the Hereafter and leads a righteous life (5:69).

[Quran 5:87] ...and do not aggress; GOD dislikes the aggressors.

[Quran 3:104] Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners.

No Compulsion in Religion

[Quran 2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion ....

The example we learn from the prophets of God is to pray for peace (2:126, 14:35), and we ask that God may grant us righteousness in this world and the Hereafter (Quran 2:201, 14:40, 1:5-7, 46:15, 27:19, 3:104, 26:83, 37:100, 2:286, 21:90).

To summarize, the religion of Submission (Islam, in Arabic) forbids all forms of aggression and advocates peaceful coexistence.

We recommend each reader find out what God says in the Quran by reading it themselves and verifying the information it contains.

Editorial, July 2015