What happened in Quebec is a great tragedy. All human beings need places of safety, and people of faith should be able to count on our synagogues, churches temples, mosques and other places of worship to be safe spaces.

It is our hope and prayer that this does not happen anywhere else again. People in Utah have continued to be great neighbors. They are extremely supportive and have volunteered to patrol our Islamic Society if needed; they have offered condolences, have made numerous phone calls and some have also come by in person to offer support at a time when all groups of people remain highly concerned. We appreciate the support offered to our community.

It is our sincere hope and prayer that president Trump will use words and phrases more cautiously and follow it up by action that will bridge gaps in our great society. This was an act of homegrown terrorism committed by a French Canadian (no, all French Canadians should not be reviled!), and it is unfortunate that our President would use this act of violence against Muslims in order to further his dubious bans upon Muslim refugees and legal permanent residents.

We pray for our Muslim brothers lost in the shooting, may Allah subhanahu wa Ta’ala grant them Jannah. We pray for their families, who have lost their fathers and husbands; may Allah Azza wa Jal give them sabr and reward them for their suffering. We pray for the community of Muslims in Quebec who lost cherished members of the faith; may Allah alleviate their pain and fear. Ameen, ya Rabb al ‘Alameen.