His mosque was burned to the ground in the early morning hours of Saturday, but on Sunday night his heart was full of hope.

We are so overwhelmed, said Imam Fazal Hassan , looking out over the crowd inside Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Washington. Some 400 people had gathered there to show support for the local Muslim community, according to mosque board member Tanvir Rahman.

Hassan recounted how immediately after news spread that his mosque the Islamic Center of Eastside in Bellevue had been destroyed by fire, he received calls from the areas rabbis, priests and pastors, all offering to help.

Outside the mosque, Hassan said, other non-Muslims in the Seattle area left gifts: flowers, balloons and cookies.

They were still warm! Hassan said of the cookies, and the crowd burst into laughter.

Hassan then cited a hadith He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah before thanking the towns mayor, the fire chief, the police chief, the FBI and everyone else in the Bellevue area from the bottom of my heart.

I thank you for all the support, love and compassion and respect you have been giving us, he said. The crowd rose to their feet in applause. (You can see the imams remarks on video shot by an audience member here .)