Christchurch: Azan and Friday Congregational Prayers Broadcast Live at Al Noor Mosque after New Zealand Terrorist Attack.

A nationwide moment of silence was observed in New Zealand on Friday, ushered in by the Azaan; Muslim call to prayer. This is right after a week when over 50 people were killed and scores of others wounded were marked in mosque massacre at two masjids.

The prayer and two-minute reflection were broadcast live on national media outlets and came as an estimated 20,000 people, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, gathered metres from the Al Noor mosque in the city of Christchurch for Muslim Friday prayers (Jumaah Namaz).

Al Noor was one of the two places of worship targeted in the city during the worst terrorist attack in New Zealand's modern history, allegedly carried out by Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, along with the Linwood mosque. Prior to the prayers, Ardern (wearing a black headscarf) quoted the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during a brief address to the crowd, saying:

"When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain. New Zealand mourns with you, we are one."

Remembrance ceremonies and public vigils took place across the Pacific nation on Friday. Imam Gamal Fouda, prayer leader at the Al Noor mosque who was present during last week's attack, told mourners in Christchurch he "saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist". Fouda said that:

"Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love of and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings from across the globe."

He further added:

"We have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable, and the world can see in us an example of love and unity. We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken."

Many of those who arrived to pray in Christchurch had travelled from all over New Zealand, home to about five million people, and elsewhere across the world. A man told Al Jazeera, his voice trembling with emotion, that:

"Whenever you look at the mosque you get the picture of what it must have been like for the people that were here at that moment [of the attack]."

52-year-old Christchurch resident Bell Sibly, who wore a headscarf to show her support said:

"We're not moving on. This grieving is going to take a long time…But what he's done, he was hoping to divide us, and instead, he's brought us all together in one big hug."

A "March for Love" rally is also scheduled to take place in Christchurch on Saturday. Thousands of people are expected to attend. May Allah (SWT) give strength to all those dealing with such tragedies. Ameen. Let others know how New Zealand is providing support and doing actions in solidarity with the Muslims.

See also: Duas for deceased and Prayer Times App.

Source: Al Jazeera