Congratulations on your team’s Cup Match exploits. I hope you had a fantastic time with friends and family.

We remember too those families who are suffering the loss of loved ones and those experiencing the horrible effects of senseless violence from the actions of deranged, cold and murderous individuals.

They cannot be called human beings as their actions prove they have no mercy, and possess not a trace of humanity. To kill, hurt and maim are the actions of a beast.

It makes one wonder, whatever processes created such a monster. Could it be a compilation of a sick system, a sick society caused by greed, deprivation and injustice? Who knows? And what does it matter?

The horse is already out of the stable. The question is how do we get out of this tangled web and destructive path that Bermuda is on?

In my opinion, our troubles stem from the lack of belief and fear of God. We have become fearless and heedless of God and godly commands. We have lost our senses and our wisdom.

We all are familiar with the biblical verse: “The fear of God, is the beginning of wisdom.” According to Wikipedia the “fear of God” may refer to fear itself, but more often to a sense of awe, and submission to, a deity.

People subscribing to popular, monotheistic religions for instance, might fear Hell and divine judgment, or submit to God’s omnipotence.

We should not fear God in the traditional sense of fear. The Islamic scholar, Ibn Mas`ud, explaining what it means to fear God as He ought to be feared, said: “It means that He is to be obeyed not disobeyed, remembered not forgotten, and shown gratitude not ingratitude.”

At any rate, we must begin to find effective ways to end this senseless destruction in our community by any means necessary. Getting back to godliness is, in my opinion, the way to achieve this.

In the meantime, the solution is to come together, all the stakeholders; family, politicians, religious leaders, teachers, etc – in fact the whole village – to work on rectifying this momentous problem. And, of course, we must pray unceasingly, as well as to keep the faith.

“O Allah! There is no ease except that which You make easy, and indeed You, when You want, make difficulties easy.”

Bermuda keep the faith and do the work needed, as faith without works is dead.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam