On the eve of Eid al-Fitr, in one of the most holiest sites in Islam, terror struck. In what’s considered the most shocking and perplexing moment of violent extremism for Muslims worldwide, a suicide bomber executed an attack in the Saudi city of Medina, right outside Al-Masjid an-Nabawi — the Prophet’s Mosque.
It was the apex of terror attacks that occured on Monday itself, as another bomb was detonated outside a mosque earlier in the Shia-majority province of Qatif, just before sunset. Prior to that, an attempted bombing near the US consulate in Jeddah was successfully foiled by Saudi authorities.
Right now, it’s become clear that nowhere — not even the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad — is safe.
Istanbul. Puchong. Dhaka. Baghdad. Jeddah. Jakarta. All cities in Muslim-majority countries; all cities that’ve appeared in headlines in less than a week due to shocking terror attacks that’ve transpired. All appearing to be connected to ISIS, or other associated offshoots.
But the attack in Medina remains to be the most nauseating for Muslims. ISIS have effectively declared a statement that they hold nothing sacred; even Islam’s second-most holiest site is fair game for them in the endless need for chaos.
How dare they attack shortly after Maghrib, when Muslims break their fast, when they’re at their most vulnerable.
How dare they attack during Ramadan, when the mosque is packed to the rafters with Muslims from all over the world.
How dare they think up of a ruse involving generosity — in which the bomber detonated his explosives when he went up to security officers, pretending to share his food with them.
I had the good fortune to actually visit Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in March for Umrah pilgrimage. I’ll say this — the attack could have been far more devastating. Considering that I was already crushed neck to neck at the Prophet’s Mosque back then, the density of people there right now for Ramadan is definitely a lot more substantial.
And yet, the blast took the lives of only four people and injured another five. Call it ‘divine intervention’ if you must.
Crucifying Christians, slaughtering children, throwing homosexuals off buildings, raping and enslaving women in the name of God — it seems as if the Islamic State is simply upping the ante in shock factor every time. If they wanted an even bigger reaction from the world today, they got it. Attacking Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan in a hallowed place in Islamic history is the biggest “Fuck you” to the world that they could have mustered.
In what twisted interpretation of the Quran or Hadith does it say that a time of penance, abstinence and introspection should also be the time to escalate violence? The puritan belief apparently decided that Ramadan should be a month of “calamity everywhere for the non-believers”, according to ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani. The term “non-believers” apparently includes innocent Muslims who don’t believe in their vile cause.
To those here who still choose to turn a blind eye to family, friends and acquaintances teetering on violent fundamentalism: Wake up, you sods.
There is no leap of faith or explanation required — these are not men driven by their love for God.
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