Author: Sahid Salau
On the penultimate weekend, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, delivered the keynote address at the 17th National Peace Symposium hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK.
The event also served as the inauguration of a new five-storey building at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, which was rebuilt after a fire in 2015.
Ahead of the formal opening of the peace seminar, the Ahmadiyya leader unveiled a plaque and led participants in a silent prayer to mark the inauguration of the new complex, which includes two function halls, office space and guest rooms.
More than 1,500 people attended the event, including 500 dignitaries and guests from 40 countries, including ministers, ambassadors and members of parliament.
During the conference, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad presented the 2019 Ahmadiyya Muslim for Peace Award to Barbara Caroline Hoffman, founder of charity organization ASEM, for her charitable work for war orphans.
He also presented the 2022 Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for Peace to former Hiroshima Mayor Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba for his efforts to advance nuclear disarmament.
Pressahmadiyya.com reported that in his speech, the Ahmadiyya world leader warned of the dangerous trajectory of the war in Ukraine and urged world leaders to “strive to find mutually acceptable terms of agreement” and make urgent efforts to find peace , lest the “vicious circle of constant violence” spin with “increasing rage”.
He said “World War III is dangerously near” and showed verses from the Koran to outline the solutions needed to find a way out.
In his speech, he also emphasized the real purpose of building the mosques and drew attention to the fact that every mosque must be connected with the Holy Kaaba in Mecca.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Muslims are commanded to build their mosques, the holy shrine in Mecca, in the direction of the Holy Kaaba, and to perform their prayers in the direction of it. However, it is not enough to turn one’s body towards the Holy Kaaba Instead, Muslims and their mosques must fulfill the goals of the Kaaba as outlined in Chapter 3, Section 98 of the Qur’an, which states that anyone who enters the Holy House of God “enters into peace.” This Qur’anic verse means, A true Muslim, upon entering a mosque, will himself enter into a state of peace and, by fulfilling the rights and orders of Allah, will be a beacon of peace and security for others.
“All our mosques are spiritual reflections of the Holy Kaaba, they are not only the abode of worship to Allah Almighty, but also a means of realizing human rights and establishing world peace.”
According to him, over the years, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been organizing events such as peace seminars in an effort to build peace.
He said: “Although we have been preaching this message for a long time, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. I think the root cause is that the vast majority of people in the world have turned away from Almighty God and regard material interests and worldly pursuits as their ultimate goal.” Goals. It was in this vain and greedy pursuit that humanity was dragged into two disastrous and harrowing world wars in the 20th century. Instead of learning from the horrors of the past, the world was once again drawn to war and engulfed in conflict.”
He said the teachings of Islam help provide solutions for creating peace.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “The Holy Qur’an instructs that every possible opportunity must be seized to bring about peace, however remote the chances of success. In chapter 49, verse 10, Allah the Almighty says that when two nations are at war , a third party should seek to reconcile them and bring them to a peaceful settlement. If the aggressors continue to wage war, it is the duty of other nations to unite and use proportionate and lawful force to stop the oppressors. However, once their cruelty ceases, the Unjust retaliation or retaliation cannot be practiced.
“Sura 5, verse 9 of the Qur’an clearly states that you must not allow the hostility of any country or party to prevent you from upholding the true standard of justice and fairness. Therefore, preventing a country from advancing after a war and limiting its punitive sanctions or other unjust measures to liberty and prosperity.”
Referring to the current war in Ukraine, he explained how these Islamic principles are very relevant.
The caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community said that while the war in Ukraine showed no signs of easing, certain political leaders declared that “once the war is over, Russia should be severely sanctioned and pay for its actions”.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad shed light on the dangers of such rhetoric, praising an article in the British media, saying: “Recently, journalists Matthew Parris wrote an op-ed in The Times arguing that such remarks, made before any meaningful peace talks, are misjudged and only serve to fuel further unrest…I believe him This warning is correct. If Russia and its leaders know that their withdrawal will lead to their certain destruction, what incentive do they have to cease hostilities?”
He warned that the war in Ukraine could lead to further conflicts and wars, saying: “The fact is that wars tend to beget wars. There is a real concern that the conflict in Ukraine might spread, or that other countries might have the audacity to abandon diplomatic efforts to resolve their disputes and sue.” Force. For example, the situation in Taiwan is becoming increasingly unstable as China seeks control. Therefore, world leaders, the media, and others should not fall into the trap of thinking that the war in Ukraine can be easily contained.”
He offers practical solutions to end the cycle of war in light of Islamic teachings.
He said: “The whole world is proficient in supporting victims and those who suffer injustice, as is the case in the Ukrainian country at this time. However, hearing Islam teaches Muslims not only to help the victim or the persecuted, but also to help the perpetrator and oppressors, you may be surprised. Of course, this does not mean that you provide the aggressors with the means or freedom to inflict further acts of cruelty. On the contrary, “helping” the aggressors means preventing them from committing further atrocities and injustices Behavior.
“Whatever mistakes the Russian government makes, we must bear in mind the broader prospect that, if the war is not ended, it will lead to a deepening of the global crisis, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Rival blocs will become more entrenched. Hatred will become more entrenched, increasing the likelihood of a world war. So while they continue to support Ukraine’s self-defense, world powers should do everything they can to end the war through peaceful negotiations and negotiations in good faith.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad expressed his grief over what the future might hold, saying: “For years I have warned of the risk of a full-scale world war and spoken of how its deadly and destructive consequences are far beyond our comprehension. The long-term I have been warning of such a war for a long time, but I am not satisfied with the fact that we are getting closer to it, and that others are now expressing similar emotions and fears. On the contrary, when I see the world is I have nothing but sadness and pain as we rush faster and faster towards a terrible world war in which millions of innocent lives will be lost or permanently destroyed.
“What future will we leave to those who have yet to come? Our parting gift to our children and grandchildren will be death, destruction and suffering, not a legacy of peace and prosperity to our children and grandchildren. Of course, I Very concerned that today’s geopolitical tensions may spiral out of control and eventually lead to nuclear war… Therefore, I pray with all my heart, may Allah Almighty have mercy on mankind and may the people of the world, especially its leaders and policy makers, be merciful in this time See the truth before it’s too late.”
Accepting the 2019 Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for Peace ahead of her keynote speech, ASEM founder Barbara Caroline Hoffman said: “It is my pleasure to share this award with you. Honor my people tonight because I didn’t do it alone, we did it together.”
Dr Tadatoshi Akiba, 2022 recipient of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for Peace, said: “You [the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community] [1945年8月10日，是世界上最早承認和抗議核武器的人類和邪惡之一。第二任哈里發當天宣布，“向全世界宣布我們的宗教和道德責任不要認為這樣的流血事件是合法的”。遲來的，世界終於得出了同樣的結論……尊者的話給了我們方向。”
由於 Covid 大流行，該活動在四年間隔後返回，最後以 Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad 帶領的祈禱結束。