To the Editor:
After the horrific terrorist attack on a university in Kenya which left 147 students dead, Christian and Muslim leaders in Nairobi have joined together in preaching unity and discouraging division between faiths. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I also condemn this barbaric attack on innocent university students.
The students, who were mostly Christians, were apparently beheaded for not being able to recite verses from the Quran. It makes no sense to me that the so-called Muslims responsible for this attack are carrying out such atrocities in the name of Islam, when in fact, education and the acquisition of knowledge is given great importance in Islam.
The very first verses of the Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad were: “Read in the name of thy Lord who created; created man from a clot of blood. Read in the name of thy Lord who taught by the pen: taught man what he knew not.” (Ch 96: 1-5).
Education is not just for Muslims, education is for all.
Rabia Iqbal
Chantilly