American Muslims on San Bernardino Attack

American Muslim leaders and organizations condemned the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, that killed 14 people and injured 22 others on December 2. The FBI has begun investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. Officials said that the two shooters, Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, were radicalized. But no evidence of their involvement in a terror cell has surfaced.

In the days following the attack, faith leaders at mosques across Southern California expressed sorrow and regret. The speaker at the Dar Al Uloom Al Islamiyah-Amer mosque, where Farook had attended services, reportedly urged congregants to “differentiate between what are the teachings of Islam and what are the subversive and deviant concepts being introduced.” Within four days of launching, the Muslims United for San Bernardino campaign raised more than $100,000 from donors across the country to help the victims’ families. The following is a rundown of reactions by American Muslim leaders and organizations.

Salam al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council

“Groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda are trying to divide our society and to terrorize us. Our message to them is we will not be terrorized and we will not be intimidated,”
—Dec. 3, 2015, in a statement by Muslim Public Affairs Council President Salam al-Marayati at a news conference

Islamic Shura Council of Southern California

The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California joins the nation in condemning the senseless violence and mourn the loss of innocent lives in yet another mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center in the city of San Bernardino. 

We extend our sympathies and prayers to those who were senselessly killed and ask the Most Compassionate God to grant full recovery to the injured and bless them with patience and strength.

Earlier at a press conference, the chairman of the Shura Council, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi said that “we condemn the horrible violence in San Bernardino and stand in solidarity with the victims and the survivors.”

Shura Council appreciates the support from all its interfaith partners and civic groups and reaffirms its commitment to work together for the common and the greater good.
—Dec. 2, 2015, in a statement

Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Council on American-Islamic Relations

“We unequivocally condemn the horrific act that happened today,”

“We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the injured, to the families of those who have been killed. ... We stand in mourning, in sadness, for what happened.” 
—Dec. 5, 2015, in a statement

“The Muslim community stands shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Americans in repudiating any twisted mindset that would claim to justify such sickening acts of violence,”
—Dec. 5, 2015, in a statement

US Council of Muslim Organizations

“The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local Muslim organizations, offers its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims in the San Bernardino shooting and pray for quick recovery of those who were injured.

USCMO denounces this and every act of violence. This heinous act can never be justified under any circumstances. USCMO commends the first responders to this senseless attack for their swift and courageous handling of the situation.”
—Dec. 2, 2015, in a press release

Abdel Jalil Mezgouri, Imam from Islamic Center of San Diego

“We condemn what happened in the strongest form, without any reservation. We believe what happened is an act of insanity and cowardness.”
—Dec. 4, 2015, in a statement by Abdel Jalil Mezgouri, Imam from Islamic Center of San Diego

Islamic Community Center of Redlands

The Islamic Community Center of Redlands is saddened and shocked by the recent shootings in San Bernardino, CA and prays for the victims and their family members. The center and its members offer their deepest condolences to those affected by this tragedy and we stand with our fellow Americans in this difficult time.
—Dec. 3, 2015, in a statement by the Islamic Community Center of Redlands

President of the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations

“The people who did this act in San Bernardino do not represent my faith. I do not know if they represent any faith.”

“What this man has done cannot be justified by any standards of morality, by any justification, by any criteria of religion.”

“They [terrorist groups] are in a business and they are using this to conduct their business, whereas it really has nothing to do with religion at all. Groups like ISIS and Boko Haram; they have perverted the Islamic faith, they have hijacked the faith.”

“And we want to say very clearly, we stand with our American friends and our American citizens as brothers and sisters. This is a moment of great sadness,” in which we must, “reject all kinds of extremism, all kinds of violence.”
—Dec. 4, 2015, in an interview with ABC10 News

Qasim Rashid, spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA

“We don't expect Christians to condemn the Planned Parenthood shooting. That would be ridiculous. ... We need to recognize that terrorism has no religion. We need to stand united against intolerance, against bigotry, and certainly against terrorism and violence.”
—Dec. 3, 2015, to The Baltimore Sun