Assalamu Alaikum,

Certain hate groups are planning to hold anti-Muslim protests tomorrow, Friday 10/9 and Saturday 10/10 in front of mosques around the country. Several of our community members reached out to us with concern. We have been closely monitoring the situation and have been in contact with no less than 4 government and law enforcement agencies these past days regarding this matter. At this time, we have no indication that any protest is being planned outside of MAPS on those 2 days. Still, we have taken additional safety precautions.

If protesters happen to show up we ask all our community members to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and respond to hate with kindness

Qur’an 41:34 “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.”

Do not engage the protesters, do not argue back and do not invite them in the mosque.

Above all, stay positive. Remember that such groups are fringe groups and we have many more friends in the broader community who have already reached out to us with support and kind words. Hate has never amounted to anything. In the end, kindness always triumphs over hate.

Jazakum-Allah-khairan

Mahmood Khadeer

MAPS President