Islamic Center Of San Diego: What We Carry Together

“Those who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”
They are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is they who are rightly guided.”
Qur’an 2:156–157

Heartbroken by the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego during one of the holiest times of the Islamic year, our prayers are with the victims, their families, the injured, and the entire San Diego Muslim community.

Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad are not strangers to us. They are our teachers, our elders, our children, our neighbors, and our community members. May they be surrounded in mercy and their loved ones be granted comfort, healing, and strength during this painful time.

Yesterday’s attack marks another painful reminder of the growing threat of hate-fueled violence targeting sacred spaces and marginalized communities.

As details continue to emerge, we remember that acts of violence against Muslims are shaped by normalized Islamophobia, racism, xenophobia, political scapegoating, online radicalization, and the repeated dehumanization of Muslim communities.

Violence in sacred spaces leaves wounds that extend far beyond a single congregation, shaking entire communities and undermining the sense of security and belonging that places of worship are meant to provide.

Everyone deserves to worship safely, no matter their faith. Religious freedom and safety are fundamental rights, and no one should fear violence when they walk into a mosque, church, synagogue, temple, or any place of worship.

At MuslimARC, this is why our work matters. Anti-racism education, coalition building, public education, and community care are not abstract ideas. They are part of the long work of confronting hate, protecting one another, and building communities rooted in dignity, solidarity, and collective safety.

We mourn with the San Diego community and stand with everyone impacted by this violence.

We urge communities, institutions, and leaders to:

Challenge Systems of Dehumanization

Hate crimes grow within broader cultures of Islamophobia, racism, xenophobia, white Christian nationalism, misogyny, and conspiracy thinking. Incarceration alone does not eliminate the ideologies that produce hate violence. Preventing future harm requires addressing propaganda, militarism, white supremacy, misogyny, and political scapegoating. We also encourage coalitions among Muslim, Black, Jewish, immigrant, Sikh, and other targeted communities to collectively confront hate and defend one another.

Invest in Prevention Rather Than Reaction

Community-based interventions address radicalization before violence occurs. We must invest in anti-racism education, media literacy, violence interruption programs, and mental health care. We need stronger platform accountability, counter-narratives, and public education that interrupts dehumanization and online radicalization before it escalates into violence.

Strengthen Community Care and Healing

Communities impacted by violence need long-term support through trauma-informed care, mutual aid, counseling, spiritual support, and healing resources. We must also strengthen collective safety infrastructure through community accompaniment, mosque safety teams, interfaith solidarity networks, trauma response teams, bystander intervention training, and rapid response systems rooted in trust, relationships, and collective care rather than surveillance.

May Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad be granted mercy and peace. May the injured heal fully. May our communities remain united in the face of hate and fear.

Resources for community safety, healing, anti-hate education, and solidarity

Support the Victims and Families: Launchgood for the San Diego Martyrs and Goodbricks for all ICSD victims
Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety CAIR’s practical guidance for mosque and community safety planning.
MuslimARC Resources Educational resources on anti-racism, Islamophobia, solidarity, and community healing.
Creating Safety and Healing for Our Children in San Diego by Sukoon Therapy and Consulting

Mental Health Resources

Khalil Center Mental Health Get psychological, psychiatric, & counseling services
Maristan Explore our collection of resources dedicated to advancing mental well-being in Muslim communities and beyond.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text \(988\) anytime to reach trained professionals for immediate, free mental health support and suicide prevention.
California Peer-Run Warm Line: Call or text (855) 600-9276 (toll-free) to connect with peer counselors for non-emergency, stigma-reducing emotional support.
CalHOPE: Call (833) 317-HOPE or chat on the CalHOPE Platform for free and confidential emotional support resources for Californians of all ages.

Latest posts

Dhul Hijjah and What We Carry Forward

THE SEASON OF HAJJ: WHAT WE CARRY FORWARD

Dhul Hijjah is a sacred time that invites Muslims around the world into remembrance, reflection, sacrifice, and collective responsibility.

The sacred rituals of Hajj are not disconnected from the world around us. They carry lessons about dignity, migration, equality, perseverance, solidarity, and moral courage that continue to speak to the crises of our time.

At MuslimARC, we believe these teachings call us not only to spiritual reflection, but also to action rooted in justice and compassion.

Our Next Chapter

MuslimARC is entering a new chapter.

For over a decade, this work has been built by a community. From our founding in 2014, through the leadership of Margari Hill and co-founder Namira Islam, to the AMEL and AMAL fellows, partners, volunteers, and supporters who shaped this organization along the way.

This work has always been collective.

Many Histories

What if the histories we were taught left out the connections that matter most?

Over the next three months, we are tracing connections that link Africa, Asia, and the broader world. From the African roots of SWANA, to the Indian Ocean world, to the sacred journey of Hajj, these stories reveal a deeper truth:

Islamic Center Of San Diego: What We Carry Together