(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/16/2022)- The US Council of Muslim Organizations, on behalf of our member institutions and American Muslims, mourns the loss of our brothers and sisters killed in the Bronx apartment fire last week, 15 of whom, including eight children ages 2 to 12, had their mass Janaza funeral prayer today at Masjid-ur-Rahmah mosque. Almost all the victims had immigrated from Gambia.
This horrific tragedy must spur equitable housing reform, not only in New York City but across the nation. Residents could not sufficiently and safely heat their apartments without the use of space heaters (a faulty one reportedly ignited the fire) and were overtaken in just minutes throughout the 19-story building by billowing smoke, likely due to failing fire-safety doors and other required protections.
We pray for our loving departed ones.
O Allah! We implore Your forgiveness for all these victims and ask that You accept them as martyrs. We beseech You to raise their ranks among the rightly guided in Paradise, and that You be with their loved ones whom they have left behind. Forgive us and them, O Lord of the Worlds, and make spacious for them their graves and fill their graves with Your Light. You, and You alone, are the Answerer of Prayers. Your peace and blessings upon our master and Prophet, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions, with everlasting peace. May it be so. Amin.
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