LETTER | “I went to the West and saw Islam, but no Muslims; I got back to the East and saw Muslims, but no Islam” - Mohammad Abduh

US-based non-profit organisation Islamicity’s latest indices in 2017 gives New Zealand the highest ranking in the entire world for reflecting what it refers to as Islamic values.

The indices are made up of the economic index, legal and governance index, human and political rights index, international relations index and the cumulative overall index.

Let us get to know a bit about New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern. Politician extraordinaire, she rose to be the 40th prime minister of New Zealand in less than ten years of entering politics at age 37.

She was the president of the International Union of Socialist Youth but now describes herself as a social democrat and a progressive. She is the world's youngest female head of government.

I will not repeat what happened on March 15, 2019 in NZ, but will focus on what happened next.

Through her actions, Ardern has confirmed Islamicity’s highest ranking for New Zealand and clearly demonstrated it is not a mere perception.

“We are one,” she said. That is a very powerful message compared to "You're either with us, or against us". The latter calls for polarisation and is very damaging. Her other statements, which comes from the heart, epitomise unity and harmony. She's the embodiment of all our hopes.

The fact is, many of the victims and family members of the deceased have expressed forgiveness to the ‘terrorist’ who created the mayhem. That is the true Islam, whether today or tomorrow, which is all about compassion and to continue to harmoniously co-exist with people of other faiths.

It was an awesome sight when hundreds of people gathered together to show rejection of the hatred and violence by linking arms and standing guard during Friday prayers, one week after the massacre. Even members of the Mongrel Mob biker gang turned up to guard mosques in Christchurch and Hamilton.

We have had enough of hatred, hostility and violence the world over and do not need it in peaceful countries like New Zealand.

Ardern, in the unlikely event that you decide not to seek re-election in New Zealand, we need you in Malaysia. Hatred, especially hate news on social media seems to be uncontrollable, especially after the last general election. I pray that what happened in Christchurch on March 15 will never happen in my beloved country. Again, in the unlikely event that it happens here (God forbid), we need someone of your calibre.

The final words uttered by the late Haji Mohammed Daoud Nabi, a 71-year-old man who opened the door at the Al-Noor mosque, were: "Hello brother, welcome".

To you, Ardern, we will say: “Hello sister, welcome”.

Ardern, I wish that you will have a long and healthy life and may God bless you.

You have done an excellent job, or as they say in Maori, “Mahi pai”.

I hope this will be the last time I say that our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, because we should stop all this from happening again.

What say you?

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.