“Dear Zainab…” | Letters to the Ummah

Last updated on: December 26, 2019 at 9:31 am by Iman

“Dear Zainab…” | Letters to the Ummah 2019-12-26T09:31:01-06:00 Iman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

justiceforzainab dear zainab

Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash

Dear Zainab,

10 days have passed since your murder, and five days since you were found. It took me almost a week to write this, because… What does one say after an incident like this? What can be said to console your parents, who were shocked with this horrifically tragic news while visiting the House of God? What can I say to you, sweet angel, after your dignity and life were stolen from you in such a heinous way? After you were lured towards your death, innocently walking hand in hand with a monster who took you away under the guise of safety and friendship? You were trusting, because you should be able to trust people. You did nothing wrong. You were just seven years old.

You’re not just someone else’s daughter. You’re the world’s daughter and little sister. You were the collective responsibility of everyone: the local police in Kasur, the community around you, but most of all, the world that gave the killer the confidence to do what he did. A world that still says, “boys will be boys” and, “men just can’t help themselves.” A world that tries to hold women accountable for violence committed against them. But you can’t even say #MeToo, princess. Because even your right to live was snatched away from you. Your voice and right to defend yourself was stolen from you.

The worst response I have seen, unfortunately, has been from people in countries like mine. People who dehumanize children like you on a daily basis, because you don’t look like their children. Comments left anonymously on the Internet in a cowardly fashion show just how callous people can be. In their minds, the crime and injustice done against you is not their problem. Apparently, the monsters in their countries are less barbaric. The child rapists and murderers in their own countries are just mentally ill – an exception to the generally “civilized” population.

Some people grieve over the loss of a child’s life by saying, “He might have grown up to be X” or, “She might have grown up to be Y.” I don’t care if you would have grown up to be a doctor, teacher, or famous humanitarian. Your existence was valuable because you were a human being – a precious little 7-year-old. Your life was worth just as much as any other child’s, no matter what the skin color, nationality, or socioeconomic status. And your life was worth just as much as the other children’s who were killed by this man. Hopefully, the outrage over your murder will bring some justice for them, too.

I pray that you will forever be in a place where you don’t have to think about or remember what happened to you. Where the horrors of this world are like a bad dream that disappear forever after you wake up. I pray that the monster who killed you will face severe consequences for what he did, in this life and the next. As the globe becomes more connected, people seem to be getting more detached. I pray that the world will start to see people like you as human beings whose lives are worth more than a passing thought or a trending hashtag.

Rest in peace, little angel. You will never be forgotten.

Love,
Bessma

“Gardens of perpetual residence: they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses, and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying,] “Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.” [Qur’an 13:23-24]

Follow Mostly Muslim on Facebook HERE.

To contribute to the “Letters to the Ummah” series: Visit the “Contribute to MM” page for more information, and submit your letters to [email protected].

Previous Post

January 8, 2018

Marriage Is Not a Cure-All for Life's Problems

Next Post

January 16, 2018 Discovering the Grace of God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Afterlife Culture Dealing with Others English Faith & Spirituality Inspiration Letters to the Ummah Personal / Life Poetry Ramadan Reality Check Reflections Relationships Religion Society & Culture Uncategorized Urdu Women

Select a Month September 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 March 2016 November 2015 October 2015 June 2015 May 2015 February 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Wise men from the East followed me across the sky to find the newborn King. What celestial guide led them?

Select your answer to see how you score.

An angel A star The moon A comet