Thousands of innocent lives were lost on September 11, 2001. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones, and our most severe condemnation is aimed at the terrorists and their reprehensible actions. Attacks against civilians are condemned in Islam in no uncertain terms, and the majority of Muslims are peace-loving people who denounce such evil.
Indeed, among the many victims of 9/11 were several dozen innocent Muslims, ranging in age from their late 60s to a couple’s unborn child. Six of these victims were Muslim women, including one who was 7 months pregnant. Many were stockbrokers or restaurant workers, earning a living to care for their families. There were converts and immigrants, hailing from over a dozen different countries and the U.S. There were heroes: a NYPD cadet and a Marriott hotel worker, who sacrificed their lives attempting to rescue others. The Muslim victims were parents to over 30 children, who were left orphaned without one or both of their parents.
For the families of these victims, grief and sorrow were compounded by incredulity that the murder of their loved ones could in any way be justified by religious or political motives. In addition, among their fellow Americans they have faced ignorance, suspicion, and bias against the faith they hold dear.
In some cases, family members faced interrogations based on initial suspicions that their Muslim relatives were not victims, but were actually terrorists involved in the hijackings. For example, the mother and other family members of American Airlines flight #11 passenger, Rahma Salie, were barred from traveling to her memorial service. Her mother, Haleema, said, "I would like everyone to know that she was a Muslim, she is a Muslim and we are victims too, of this tragic incident.”
In the early weeks after the attacks, we first published an initial and unconfirmed Muslim victim list. It was based on information from early news reports, the Newsday victims database, and the Islamic Circle of North America. In the years since, it became clear that the list needed updating as official victim lists continued to be revised. This newly updated list is based upon earlier notes, as well as more recent and official victim lists, such as those published at Legacy.com, CNN, USA Today, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. When available, links to tribute pages and photos are provided, to share these 9/11 victims’ personal stories.
Inna li lahi wa inna li layhi raja’un. From God we come, and to Him is our return.
Muslim Victims of 9/11
- Shabbir Ahmed - 47 years old - Windows on the World Restaurant
- Tariq Amanullah - 40 years old - Fiduciary Trust Co.
- Michael Baksh - 36 years old - Marsh & McLennan
- Touri Hamzavi Bolourchi - 69 years old - retired nurse on United #175
- Abul K. Chowdhury - 30 years old - Cantor Fitzgerald
- Mohammad Salahuddin Chowdhury - 38 years old - Windows on the World
- Jemal Legesse De Santis - 28 years old - World Trade Center
- Simon Suleman Ali Kassamali Dhanani - 63 years old - Aon Corp.
- Syed Abdul Fatha - 54 years old - Pitney Bowes
- Mon Gjonbalaj - 65 years old - Janitor, World Trade Center
- Nezam A. Hafiz - 32 years old - Marsh & McLennan
- Mohammed Salman Hamdani - 23 years old - NYPD Cadet
- Zuhtu Ibis - 25 years old - Cantor Fitzgerald
- Muhammadou Jawara - 30 years old - MAS Security
- Sarah Khan - 32 years old - Forte Food Service
- Taimour Firaz Khan - 29 years old - Carr Futures
- Abdoulaye Kone - 37 years old - Windows on the World
- Abdu Ali Malahi - 37 years old - WTC Marriott
- Nurul Hoque Miah - 35 years old - Marsh & McLennan
- Boyie Mohammed - 50 years old - Carr Futures
- Ehtesham U. Raja - 28 years old - TCG Software
- Ameenia Rasool - 33 years old - Marsh & McLennan
- Mohammad Ali Sadeque - 62 years old - newspaper vendor at WTC, reported missing
- Rahma Salie & child - 28 years old (7 months pregnant) - American #11
- Khalid M. Shahid - 25 years old - Cantor Fitzgerald
- Mohammed Shajahan - 41 years old - Marsh & McLennan
- Nasima Hameed Simjee - 38 years old - Fiduciary Trust Co.
- Michael Theodoridis - 32 years old - American #11
- Abdoul Karim Traore - 41 years old - Windows on the World
- Karamo Trerra - 40 years old - ASAP NetSource
- Shakila Yasmin - 26 years old - Marsh & McLennan