Princeton Area Muslim Groups to Gather Tonight to Mourn the Loss of Children in Pakistan

candles Pakistan Princeton Muslim groupsMuslim groups from the Princeton area will join together tonight to share their grief over the Tuesday massacre of more than 140 school children in Peshawar, Pakistan by the Taliban.

The Center for Muslim Life at Princeton University will host “A Gathering of Souls to Mourn the Loss of Children in Peshawar, Pakistan and Beyond” at 7 p.m. in Murray Dodge Hall at Princeton University. The event is open to the public.

“On Tuesday morning we all awoke to the devastating news that over 140 precious children’s lives were taken by gunmen who have no religion and no heart at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan,” reads a statement from the organizers. “This vigil is to mourn and honor the lives lost in this massacre and to pray for children everywhere who are suffering from our collective violence.”

The invitation to the gathering leads with the following verse from the Qur’an:

“…If anyone slays a human being…it shall be as though he had slain all of humanity; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all of humanity.” (Qur’an 5:32)

The group will pray together and recite verses of the Qur’an. The Islamic Society of Central Jersey encouraged members today to join the gathering and issued a statement about the attack.

“The Islamic Society of Central Jersey strongly condemns the inhumane attack on the innocent people in Peshawar carried out by the Pakistan Taliban. This act is totally against every Islamic value and tradition. It is simply a horrific crime against humanity,” reads the statement. “We urge the Pakistan government and other countries that can assist to find these perpetrators as soon as possible and bring them to justice. Our prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.  We speak as Muslims, as Americans and as human beings who are committed to peace, democracy and justice for all children and people in the world.”