“Whoever kills a soul, unjustly, it is as if he had slain the whole mankind. And whoever saves a single soul, it is as if he had saved the whole mankind.” — Quran 5:32

On Thursday, March 21, 2019, RIT held a vigil in the Allen Chapel in solidarity with those affected by the mass shooting that occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand. The vigil saw approximately 100 students and community members in attendance, each there to honor the victims of the mosque shootings that occurred on March 15, 2019, as well as those affected by terror and hate worldwide.

“It was a hate crime, as simple as that,” said Dr. Rauf Bawany, Muslim chaplain at the Center for Spirituality and Religious Life.

Yet, Bawany encouraged forgiveness and noted that many had already forgiven the gunman. His sermons teach empathy and understanding — and above all else, love.