Adeel Malik
To know how Islam is truly put into practice, seeing how practicing Muslims react to calamities and struggles is fundamental.
The muezzin of London Central Mosque, Raafat Maglad was stabbed in the neck inside the mosque, and how does he react – by forgiving his attacker. Yes, this is Islam in action.
The brave and compassionate elderly Muslim, who is in his 70s, checked himself out of hospital and returned to London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park for afternoon prayers, less than 24 hours after being stabbed there.
Alhumdulilah the elderly muazzin of London Central Mosque who was stabbed yesterday is recovering well and smiled too.
May Allah continue to give him full recovery and protect everyone in His houses. pic.twitter.com/KLcCErP3Vw
— Muslim Council of Hong Kong (@muslimcouncilhk) February 21, 2020
A 29-year-old man is in custody after he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after he was tackled by worshippers.
With a dressing still on the “very deep cut” on his neck and his right arm in a sling, Mr Maglad told reporters:
“I forgive him. I feel very sorry for him.”
“What is done is done, he is not going to return.
“He is a human being and this is my faith. What happened to me is my faith.”
The muezzin, who makes the call to prayer, was stabbed from behind at about 3pm in an attack the Metropolitan Police is not treating as terror-related.
London Central Mosque’s Muazzin was stabbed in the shoulder by a terrorist who was praying right behind him. #RegentsParkMosque
The 29-yr-old, who was a regular attendee at the mosque wanted to attack the Imam, but the muazzin got in the way.
May Allah protect everyone. pic.twitter.com/MkxZ9NZLXa
— Muslim Council of Hong Kong (@muslimcouncilhk) February 20, 2020
Mr Maglad, who is originally from Sudan, said he thought he had seen the attacker previously worshipping at the mosque.
Describing how the attack unfolded, he said: “We were praying and I just felt somebody hit me from behind. He didn’t say anything.
“I just felt blood flowing from my neck and that’s it, they rushed me to the hospital. Everything happened all of a sudden.”
Mr Maglad, who has been the muezzin for 30 years, said as a Muslim he does not hold any hatred in his heart and that it was “very important” for him to attend Friday prayers.
“If I miss it, I just miss something very important. It is very important for us as Muslims,” he added.
Shaukat Warraich, chief executive of non-theological group Faith Associates, said Muslim worshippers are now “looking over their shoulders” as they come to prayer.
He said: “Regent’s Park is the most iconic mosque in London because of its size and location, but it is probably also the most secure in terms of what they have and resources and manpower.
“But, generally, mosques are soft targets. Most don’t have any security apart from some CCTV.
“What we are seeing now is definitely a change in behaviour – women have stopped going and some children too, they have been advised by the menfolk not to come to prayer in the evenings and to worship at home instead, because there are concerns about being attacked at prayer or on the way to the mosques.
“People are looking over their shoulders, 100 per cent.”
Source: The Independant
