I strongly condemn the recent assault on the sanctity of Christian places of worship in Alexandria, Egypt. This heinous crime did not target only the Christian community, who are our partners in homeland, blood and history in our dear country. Rather, it is a wicked attack on our national unity and coexistence. It is an attack on the integrity, security and stability of Egypt that every Egyptian should protect even if it costs lives. The murderers’ intention is to bring about chaos by targeting our Christian brothers. The victims were Muslims and Christians. These criminals aimed to undermine the ideal unity of our great nation, a unity that is well established and deeply rooted throughout history. It is the unity preserved and protected by Islam for centuries. The Qur’an makes it clear:

 (If anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind) (5:22)

Shedding the blood of one human being is equal to murdering the whole humanity.

I believe that this crime, which is condemned by all religions and is despised by humanity and which damaged both the mosque and the church and killed and injured Christians and Muslims alike, cannot be committed by one who has any relation with correct religion. Rather, the perpetrators must be seen as criminal tools for hostile enemies who intend corruption on earth, and means to undermine the unity of Egypt and the social peace, and to push for inciting sectarian strife and destroy the country and its people.

Despite the ugliness of the crime, it has revealed the unity of the Egyptians regardless of any differences.

 We should not separate between this crime and the plots devised to destroy the unity of the Muslim nation at large that seek to tear the region apart, divide its states, and ignite ethnic, sectarian, and religious wars as part of the divide and conquer policy.

After all, Allah is always in control of all affairs.

Shaykh Tolba is director of The Quran Institute of America in Detroit.