What went wrong in San Bernardino?

Residents of San Bernardino, California, were left completely shocked on December 2, 2015, as two Muslim suspects opened fire inside a centre for disabled persons, killing at least 14 people and wounding 21 before fleeing the scene. Although the suspects were later killed in a police encounter, the shocking episode does not seem to be ending here.

While the attack was a matter of concern for the American Muslim community, Muslims all over the world were also perturbed by the incident. Many believe this will add to the already heightened Islamophobic sentiments, stirred by the November 13 Paris attacks. An estimated 27 anti-Muslim incidents have been reported across the US since last month’s coordinated terrorist attacks in the French capital. The rise in hate crimes against Muslims in the US began more than a decade ago, when global extremist outfit al Qaeda downed the Twin Towers in New York.

The most intriguing thing about the December 2 shooting, however, is the statement of Syed Rizwan Farook’s father, who revealed that his son was a devout Muslim while the suspect’s brother-in-law expressed his disbelief at the notion that Farook could have committed mass murder. Islam, a religion of peace, can never foster hate in the hearts of men.

The horrific episode of yet another US mass shooting has lessons for all those out there who want to do away with the evil acts carried out in the name of religion. It is beyond one’s comprehension how some are able to commit such atrocious acts against fellow beings, young or old, in the name of the very religion which teaches restraint from aggression. We need to seriously think about what went wrong; what converted a devout Muslim into a monster.

Since love begets love, hate will only beget more hate. Therefore, every sensible person should show great restraint when it comes to dealing with intricate, complicated matters and one should always keep in mind that although hate in response to hate might not bring any change, love in response to hate surely will.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th,  2015.