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The Islamic Association of North Texas has a mosque and a school in Richardson. (DMN file photo)<\/p>\n
Dr. Asif Hirani was preparing for midday prayer when he heard news of a deadly shooting at a mosque in San Diego Monday<\/a>, where a number of children were also in school.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though he was across the country at a mosque in Richardson,\u00a0Hirani, resident scholar at the Islamic Association of North Texas, said it was a difficult day, as his own young children were in class at the time. At the mosque’s evening and night prayers, he and other faith leaders spoke about the virtues of resilience and protecting the vulnerable.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Since the attack, Hirani said he has received a number of calls from his community expressing support and messages of solidarity from neighboring Christian and Jewish residents of Richardson. Other faith leaders have said they are increasing security measures after the attack, but also finding strength in faith and coming together as a community.\u00a0<\/p>\n “This reminds us that, despite political divisions, our faith-based communities remain united in the standing against hatred and violence and marginalization,” Hirani said. “We’ll confront hate with love and solidarity and mutual respect.”<\/p>\n Related: North Texas houses of worship lock doors, tighten security amid surge in targeted violence<\/a><\/p>\n Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Two teenagers shot and killed three men at a San Diego mosque Monday, including a security guard who is being hailed as a hero, the Associated Press reported. Officials said Tuesday the teenagers shared white supremacist views and authored writings that included hateful rhetoric against Muslims and Islam, Jewish people, the\u00a0LGBTQ\u00a0community, Black people, women and others, the Associated Press reported<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The crime is the latest attack on U.S. houses of worship, following a recent attack on a synagogue in Michigan and a deadly attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan. As a result, North Texas faith leaders<\/a> of mosques, churches, synagogues and temples have invested in increased, and costly, security.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n