Imam Reza mosque in New Lynn, Auckland, was damaged in a blaze this morning. Photos / Mike Scott
A fire that has left an Auckland mosque gutted this morning was an alleged hate crime, a senior member of the mosque claims.
Firefighters were called to the fire in the Imam Reza Mosque in New Lynn at 9.43am.
A man connected to the Astley Ave religious centre said police were focusing on a back window found smashed this morning.
”It’s crazy,” he said.
“Doing things like this just creates more hatred, more fear.”
The fire was so intense plastic chairs had melted in the blaze, he said.
Nobody was inside the building at the time of the fire.
“I’m just glad no one was hurt, that it wasn’t during prayer time,” he said.
He believed the fire started sometime before 9am.
The Imam of the mosque said in a message to their community: “There are those who tried to harm us, to shake the very foundations of our sacred space.
“Let us remember that the walls of a masjid are strong, but they are not our true foundation. Our true foundation is our faith, our love, our patience, and our unity. These are the stones that no fire can burn, no attack can weaken, and no words can shake.”
President of the Islamic Council of New Zealand Dr Muhammad Sajjad says the Islamic community is scared and he wants to reassure the community police are investigating today’s fire but it is still early days.
Sajjad said there had been an increased number of concerning incidents related to religion and race-based crime that members of the community had reported to authorities in the past couple of months.
“The people are a bit concerned about the increasing numbers of such incidents.”
The president of the nearby New Lynn Islamic Centre Taaj Mohamed says his organisation is dismayed at the suspected arson attack.
Ethnic community police liaison officers had also arrived at the scene as the investigation started into the cause of the blaze.
Earlier police called Fire and Emergency NZ to the fire on Astley Ave at 9.43am.
Three fire crews were at the scene from the Avondale Fire Station, along with Mt Roskill and Titirangi crews.
One fire truck remained at 11am.
Three police cars were also at the mosque.
The Herald has approached police for comment.
Today, we gather not only as members of a community but as one united family, bound by faith and fortified by resilience. There are those who tried to harm us, to shake the very foundations of our sacred space. But let me remind you, they may try to touch the walls and cast shadows upon the exterior, yet the heart, the soul, and the foundation of our mosque remain untouchable and unbreakable.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced trials that were meant to tear down his spirit. And yet, with every adversity, he rose with a strength that could only come from Allah. So too shall we rise from this moment with renewed strength, for we do not stand alone. We stand with Allah (SWT), with each other, and with the faith that no flame of hate can extinguish.
The Quran reminds us in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 286: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.” This test, my brothers and sisters, is a reminder of our inner strength, a call to show the world that we are not simply a building of bricks and mortar but a fortress of faith and unity.
Let us remember that the walls of a masjid are strong, but they are not our true foundation. Our true foundation is our faith, our love, our patience, and our unity. These are the stones that no fire can burn, no attack can weaken, and no words can shake.
Today, we stand united, proclaiming that our masjid is not merely a physical structure; it is a beacon of light, a place of worship, and a symbol of hope. No enemy can tear us down, for we are fortified by Allah, and we are anchored by each other.
May Allah protect us, strengthen our faith, and grant us the wisdom to rise above all trials.
Ameen.
Imam Reza Mosque
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