Q: Good morning, i am trying to contact someone for a comment as to the passing of Paul Kessler. Can you please email me. I would like your comments. God bless.

A: Thank you for reaching out to me during these tense and sad moments.

In today’s polarized world, it is crucial to unwaveringly condemn harm or aggression towards individuals, regardless of their faith or political affiliation. Thousand Oaks, like many US communities, is affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict, and any attempts to import this strife are disheartening.

I extend my appreciation to Rabbi Barclay for his commendable efforts to bring calm to this challenging issue. After a compassionate conversation with Rabbi Paul, I believe it’s our duty to address these matters maturely, ensuring the safety and security of our community while upholding the principles of free speech and the law of the land. We must also bear witness to the suffering in distant lands and appreciate the historical context. As law-abiding citizens within our borders, we place our trust in our law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and security.

It’s essential to recognize that no religion or belief system promotes violence between neighbors, regardless of their faith. In our diverse society, we must unite, unanimously rejecting aggression and advocating for peace and open dialogue to resolve differences.

In a fractured world, our nation’s strength lies in peaceful coexistence despite our differences. We can disagree without resorting to violence, and our path to resolution is paved with empathy, respect, and open-mindedness. It is worth noting that Islam teaches its members, and it’s particularly relevant during these challenging times, that we must never take away the honor and dignity of the innocent.

Let Thousand Oaks stand as a model community for peace and unity. Together, we can uphold the values of freedom and work towards understanding and resolution, forging a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.

This has been shared in an individual capacity and does not reflect or take away or adds on onto the views of my place of employment as Imam. (I wholeheartedly endorse these sentiments and kindly request they remain unaltered.)

Warm Regards,

Muhammed