The following report is by The New York Times:
An imam was shot and killed outside a New Jersey mosque early Wednesday, the authorities said.
The imam, whom the governor identified as Hassan Sharif, was shot outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque in Newark. The police arrived at the scene of the shooting shortly after 6 a.m., according to Fritz Fragé, Newark’s public safety director.
The gunman remained at large on Wednesday afternoon, and the motive for the killing was unknown. But the attack on a Muslim leader sent shock waves through the community at a time when Islamophobia is on the rise across the country.
According to Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, the leader of the Council of Imams in New Jersey, Mr. Sharif, 52, was known for being a progressive leader who was deeply invested in his community and its well-being. Masjid Muhammad is one of the oldest mosques in New Jersey and was the nucleus of the religion’s growth in the region, Mr. Shareef said, describing it as the “birthplace” of his own experience with Islam.
Mr. Shareef noted that Mr. Sharif was attending predawn prayers at the mosque when he was shot. “There are many evils that come out in the dark,” Mr. Shareef said.
Gov. Philip D. Murphy acknowledged in a statement that an “increase of bias incidents and crimes” had many Muslims on edge and said that the state would work to keep residents safe, especially in and around houses of worship.
Matthew Platkin, New Jersey’s attorney general, described the shooting as “tragic” in a statement. Earlier on Wednesday, he celebrated the state’s inaugural Muslim Heritage Month in a social media post.
“At a time when bias incidents against members of the Muslim community are on the rise, we know that this act of gun violence will heighten fears and concerns in our state,” Mr. Platkin said in the statement. “This investigation is ongoing, but at this time we do not have any information suggesting the crime was motivated by bias.”
Mr. Sharif had been a transportation security officer at Newark Liberty International Airport since 2006, according to Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration, who said that the agency was “deeply saddened” by the shooting.
He had been the resident imam of Masjid Muhammad for over four years and was also an avid boxer, Mr. Shareef said.
In August, he said, Mr. Sharif was attacked at the mosque in a similar circumstance, as he was on his way to morning prayers. In a post on his Facebook page, Mr. Sharif had described the encounter as a “definite test” in which a man approached him after he got out of his car and put a gun to his head. Mr. Sharif was able to wrestle the gun away from the attacker, who fled the scene.
“Allah definitely showed mercy toward him this morning, and I pray he take heed of that mercy and turn his life around,” Mr. Sharif wrote of his assailant, adding: “I will die trying to see our people change in this world.”
Masjid Muhammad was formerly known as Temple No. 25, according to its website. In 1973, its imam, James Shabazz, was shot to death in his driveway.
Dina Sayedahmed, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called Mr. Sharif “a beacon of leadership in his community” and added: “We advise all mosques to keep their doors open but remain cautious especially given the recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry.”
Many local residents stopped by the mosque on Wednesday, looking for information about the shooting. Lateef Murphy, 53, who sometimes prays there, said that the killing would have ripple effects throughout the Muslim community in Newark.
“It’s a shame, our religion is not about violence,” Mr. Murphy said. “It’s about how to live your life without hatred.”
Salahuddin Muhammad, a former New Jersey resident and member of Masjid Muhammad, drove from Philadelphia on Wednesday after he heard what had happened. He surveyed the scene with tears in his eyes.
“This is personal,” he said. “From Allah we come, and to Allah we return. The imam is now on his way to paradise.”
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
I mention this article because I feel it is noteworthy to pay attention to the sentiments concerning professing Christians, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews, as the latest war in Israel continues, and therefore sparking tensions. Anything one particular thing could set something off and mass violence could ensue, so stay cautious and be safe.
[15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Coming soon to Dallas, Texas as well. Dallas, despite being very conservative has a big Muslim population and you can bet some mosque shootings will take place there!
Shooter at large. Nothing like pushing the agitation & rage for the culling, covering Civil War. But the Lord’s not deceived….and that old imam found a very different reality from the continuation of porn, pedophilia and lust that Muslim men are conditioned to imagine their ‘heaven’, their ‘paradise’, to be when he woke up on the other side.
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Meanwhile, the Lord’s people must keep trusting their Lord, searching the word, waiting, watching and praying….for grace commensurate to every need, including guidance when even circumspect living gets drawn into the mess. The Jews will be fleeing & taking their money with them. America will Balkanize, with parts joining the Romish communitarian thing headed in Rome….and lots of promises being made to these imported terrorists, w/ land grants to their overlords. Nothing to cause a bit of agitation like importing a bunch of Muslims and Catholics, neither of which understand, honor or limit themselves to King James Bible truth & lawfulness, righteous authority….and who hate each other blindly, able to unite only on the common ground of their hatred for the Jews & those graffed in to that root & recognizing that fact.
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There’s a lot of proud, loud, mean, Jersey-boy Catholics over there, over into Philly & PA, up & down the coast from Boston to Baltimore….and plenty of Jew-hating, kingdom-building Augustinian Reformed/Protesting/Penta-charismatic Catholics who will join themselves to them who will not fight lawfully as Christians. But then, the Lord is not with them either….merely suffering & using them as his word is fulfilled, sovereign & yet without violating anybody’s free will conscientious choices. Fight to please him. Stand & fight righteously, when & where necessary….we’re still able to relocate somewhat: when they persecute you in one place, remove to another when you can. Thinking of those who left the idolatrous north kingdom as it was set up, returning to Judah (limited application, of course….still edifying).
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And that the Lord won’t be pleased & you’ll be seen in his eyes as those other antichrist & hypocrites if not careful & faithful. Don’t want to become like Joab and those bloody sons of Zeruiah.
You know if the Muslims did any looking into the past, they would find that Muhammad married a ROMAN CATHOLIC and that their religion was cook up by the VATICAN and Muhammad he was white and owned black slaves he married 23 women and one of them was a SIX YEAR OLD he raped, lied, and murdered and his teachings send millions to their death he died and now is in hell I recommend reading what chick publications put out they have a lot of info. about how the Muslim world and why it was created by the roman catholic church.
This will be another shot “heard all around the world”, as it will eventually spark the civil war that the elite want. Hence, for their personal safety, they’re refurbishing their bunkers they had built years ago, while others build their first!
It’s quite interesting that Zuckerberg is building his on a Hawaiian island! What’s going to happen on the USA’s mainland? Hmmm…something really big is going to happen soon. A close eye on the demon possessed elite will tell us all we need to know. Watch what they’re doing and saying…the devil really is in the details! Those details aren’t so secretive anymore…
Many times they kill their own just so they can blame it on the U.S. or other countries. The Muslims are a despicable group of hateful people. They grow up being taught to hate everyone. We are the infidels and they think we should be murdered just because we don’t follow their beliefs. Ishmael and his relatives are a bad bunch that are Hell bound.