Rafiq ibn Jubair
The Manchester bomber is dead and he will not be able to read this letter but it is for all those who are thinking of carrying out a similar act.
To the Manchester bomber,
What did you seek to achieve by killing innocent little children?
Did you seek to avenge the little children killed by Western air strikes?
If you hold their actions to be evil, what was yours?
What did you seek to achieve by terrifying a nine-year-old?
Did you seek to somehow comfort the terrorised nine-year-old child in Iraq?
If so, that nine-year-old child would be horrified that the same thing should happen to other children in their name.
What did you seek to achieve by taking a parent’s precious child away from them?
Did you seek some sort of justice for the Syrian parents who have lost their child to ‘collateral damage?
If so, that parent would be the first to condemn your actions.
What did you seek to achieve by putting fear into the hearts of people who have nothing to do with the Government’s foreign policy?
Did you think it would stop military action in Muslim countries?
On the contrary, it will provide fuel for more ‘action’ in Muslim countries.
What did you seek to achieve by strapping a bomb to yourself?
Did you seek to be called brave, a soldier or some sort of a hero?
On the contrary, people around the world see you as weak and cowardly.
What did you seek to achieve by causing unthinkable devastation to dozens of families?
Did you seek to highlight the plight of the oppressed Muslims around the world?
If so, when has harshness and violence won hearts and minds?
What did you seek to achieve by indiscriminately targeting the innocent?
Did you seek to divide people and make them turn on one another?
On the contrary, it has united people of all faiths and brought the best out of them.
What did you seek to achieve by causing havoc and chaos?
Did you not study the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?
For in the Qur’an He is described as a Mercy to the whole of mankind.
Rafiq ibn Jubair
