Hawzah News Agency (Kilbirnie, New Zealand) – In the corner of the vast, cushioned-carpet men's prayer room at Kilbirnie mosque, awash with light, Imam Nizam ul Haq Thanvi looks suitably holy.
He has an open face and emanates kindness and warmth. Today is the mosque's open day, brought forward from its usual date in August.
His face is familiar – on the March 19, he led the Muslim prayer to open parliament.
Imam Thanvi believes goodness has come out of the white supremacist terrorist attack on March 15, though his eyes are soon glassy as he speaks of it.
"It was like after 9/11 our clock started running back. We felt so alone. After the Prime Minister of New Zealand wore a hijab, it started running forward again.
"The surgeon puts a knife in but the end result is good."
That goodness was the outpouring of love and support from the wider New Zealand community toward Muslim New Zealanders.
The open day was held to honor that and to say thank you to New Zealand.
International Muslim Association NZ (NZMA) president Tahir Nazam said it was a special open day as the first after the attack, and while it was about being thankful for the help and support, it couldn't "stop here".
"After a while people are keen to forget.
"They need to understand we're not doing anything different. Anything people don't understand, they can come in and ask."
In the women's prayer room, open to all on open day, a group of thirteen girls are led in recital by Sunday group teacher Ferial Abdul Hameed.
Dechen is a Buddhist nun in the Dalai Lama tradition, and has come to learn more about Islam and Muslim people.
"I have been really struck by the friendliness of everyone here. There's a beautiful spirit, it's strong and palpable."
A hijab is expertly but delicately applied around Dechen's head by a mosque local.
"The way she put on the headscarf before, there was such a tenderness."
Dechen said there was a "sense of commonality" that illuminated the horror of the attack in Christchurch.
"It's this group that's been attacked, but it could be anyone. It makes you more aware of prejudice."
