Take a Principled Stance for Palestine Now! Dear Email, Allah, the Most Gracious and Merciful, emphasizes in the Noble Quran the sanctity of human life and the severity of taking it: In the Quran (5:32), it is stated: "Whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity." The rights to life, freedom, and dignity are God-given rights, not subject to the discretion of any individual, and cannot be infringed upon. Our adherence to these principles is a measure of our humanity. Islam, as a religion, embodies compassion and mercy for all of humanity: In the Quran (21:107), it is stated: "We have sent you, O Prophet, only as a mercy for the whole world." Therefore, the preservation of life, especially as believers, is paramount. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the sanctity of life in his sermon on the Day of Sacrifice at Mina: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Your blood, your property, your honor are forbidden for you to violate, like the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours." (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). During the blessed month of Ramadan, many mosques and organizations engage in various activities, including outreach programs, iftars, and interfaith events. While sharing our faith is encouraged, it is imperative for mosques to refrain from inviting nor accepting invitations from elected officials or leaders who have staunchly supported the genocide against the Palestinians. Our mosques need to take a crucial step in delivering a loud and clear message to elected officials and leaders that the North American Muslim community is urging a call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. With a staggering toll of over 31,000 Palestinians martyred and more than 72,000 injured, and these numbers continuing to rise, it is an affront to our values to invite pro-genocide elected officials and leaders into our community spaces. We are at a pivotal moment that demands moral clarity and steadfast principles. We urge elected officials and leaders to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The ongoing genocide in Gaza must come to an end, allowing for humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and the process of rebuilding Gaza can commence without delay. The American Muslim Task Force for Palestine recommends and calls upon all the mosques and Muslim organizations of North America to take the following pledge: “We, as the Board of Trustees and the Administrators of our Mosque / Islamic Center/Organization commit to not accept invitations nor invite elected officials and leaders who have staunchly supported Israel’s genocide against Palestinians and are against the call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza to our mosques or any of our community programs.” | 
