New Zealand Mosques - Shootings - Keep Praying For Prayer Is Strength Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

With faith in their eyes they had gathered to pray
they had not come there to see massacre or hate;
they had themselves vouched to assemble
with peace in their minds and reverence in their hearts;
it was the promise they had within themselves
that as faithfuls, they would assemble every Friday
to keep their togetherness strong in prayers
over their faith, which for centuries they had embraced
as their forefathers had taught them to continue to pray
no matter where and when, how far and why they go;
the calls for prayer thus always makes them rush to Mosques
whether it is dawn or dusk, whether it was noon or night
to thank the Almighty for His benevolence and blessings.

But this Friday, prayers remained unfinished on their lips
as bullets pierced thro' their bodies killing them instantly;
how could fate be so fatal at a place of worship
when they had only come to pray in unity with others?
How could man be so cruel not to refrain from those gunshots
which killed innocent worshippers in a way so ruthless?

How could mercy fold its wings of safety
and silence the lips of prayers of the young and old
as forty nine of them closed their eyes calling out to God
as has been written to do so in their Book of Holiness?
How could life itself permit the end of those faithfuls
who were so engrossed in their religious obligations?

And while those of you who will weep and anguish
for your brothers and sisters, for your children
for your mothers and fathers, and your loved ones,
how will your grief and pain ever leave your way
how will you ever lose your fears or tears over the years
can those bullets and deaths ever succeed in stopping
your fraternity and unity in those places of worship
which are domains of prayers called Mosques?
Will your hearts ever lose the strings of courage
which connects you to Almighty by your constant prayers?

Cry not, my friend, they have died in God's house of prayer
and in God's abode they shall find their rest
while you will fervently follow your faith
no matter even if a hundred bullets and gunshots pierces your body,
your faith will always be your comfort,
your prayers will subside your grief,
keep praying....keep praying,
for prayer itself yields strength and devotion.