Image: Jihad Watch
At Houston’s Medical Center Islamic Society, men, women, and children removed their shoes at the entrance as they gathered for midday prayers.
This week’s Friday service was the first since the tragic New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. Basem Hamid, one of the mosque’s imams, delivered a powerful sermon.
“As Muslims, we unequivocally condemn this horrific act,” he stated. “It has no place in Islam, no place among Muslims, and it is unacceptable by any standard. There is no justification or excuse for such actions.”
Following the truck attack and the revelation that the driver lived in Houston and had pledged allegiance to ISIS, some Muslim residents expressed concerns about the potential impact on their community. Would they be targeted? Should they worry about their safety? Many attendees at Friday prayers emphasized that the alleged perpetrator did not represent their faith or values.
Umme Kulsum, originally from India and now a long-time Texas resident, shared her apprehensions. “My first thought was, I hope it’s not someone from our community,” she said. “Then came the worry: what’s next? How will Islamophobic reactions affect us?”
Others reflected on parallels with the aftermath of September 11. Mohamed Salama, an IT professional who divides his time between Houston and Dallas, recalled the challenges of that period. “I vividly remember the sadness and the difficulty of being a Muslim in the U.S. back then. Even now, simple acts like attending the mosque can feel fraught.”
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston confirmed that the suspect, Jabbar, was not affiliated with any of its 21 mosques in the city.
During the service, Imam Hamid not only condemned the attack but also criticized the role of social media in spreading hatred, anger, and misinformation. He highlighted how unreliable sources claiming to represent Islam contribute to radicalization. “This is how people are led astray,” he explained.
Local imams, including Hamid, have been discussing strategies to address these issues, while Shariq Ghani, executive director of The Minaret Foundation, stressed the importance of fostering community connections. “Clergy are less worried about retaliation or secondary attacks,” Ghani noted. “Their main concern is the impact on neighborliness and social cohesion. Will this lead to Islamophobia or the marginalization of certain communities in our city?”
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