THE CRITICAL STATE Of WORLD PEACE The 10 th Annual Peace Symposium 23 rd March 2013 Baitul Futuh Mosque, London An Overview of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is a religious organisation, with branches in more than 200 countries. It is the most dynamic denomination of Islam in modern history, with an estimated membership in the tens of millions worldwide. It was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in 1889 in a small and remote village called Qadian in Punjab, India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days and the awaited one of the world community of religions (the Mahdi and Messiah of the latter days). The community he started is an embodiment of the benevolent message of Islam in its pristine purity that promotes peace and universal brotherhood based on a belief in the Gracious and Ever-Merciful God. With this conviction, within a century, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has expanded globally and it endeavours to practice the peaceful teachings of Islam by raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities, building schools and hospitals open to all and by encouraging learning through interfaith dialogue. The UK chapter of the community was established in 1913 and in 1924 it built London’s first purpose built mosque (in Southfields). It is therefore one of the oldest and most established Muslim organisations in Britain and now has more than 100 branches across Britain. The Khalifa of Islam: A Man of Peace Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was elected as the fifth Khalifa of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 2003. His life has been a reflection of dedication, steadfastness, prayer and success. His bond with God leads him to urge his community never to forget the Almighty and never to despair. His focus on prayer is evident for all to see and the fruits of the success of such prayer bear testament to his faith. His sympathy for mankind drives him and his community to serve humanity in the same spirit that the early Muslims served the poor and the needy. His sense of sacrifice mirrors the spirit of sacrifice integral to Islam. Indeed his very life and mission reflect a pure spirit that is ever wary of its responsibilities and ever vigilant for the honour of Islam, its Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the prophet of the latter days. “His Holiness eloquently and persistently returns to these themes of peace and tolerance love and understanding among the followers of different faiths… ...We desperately need the moral leadership and guidance that we can look for to His Holiness to provide...” (Lord Avebury on Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad) The community stands at one with the Khalifa in the remembrance of God and service of mankind. THE CRITICAL STATE OF WORLD PEACE Keynote Address at the 10 th Annual Peace Symposium On 23 rd March 2013, the 10 th Annual Peace Symposium was held at the Baitul futuh Mosque in Morden – the largest Mosque in Western Europe – organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK. The event attracted an audience of more than 800 people, including government ministers, ambassadors, members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, various other dignitaries, professionals, neighbours and guests from all walks of life. The theme of this year’s symposium was ‘The Pathway to Peace’. The keynote address was delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 4 Keynote Address delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad aba , Khalifatul Masih V, Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on 23 rd March 2013 at the 10 th Peace Symposium UK, at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London. After reciting Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz and Bismillah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba said: “All distinguished guests – Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barkataohu - peace and blessings of Allah be upon you all. I would firstly like to thank all of you, our respected guests, for accepting our invitation to attend today’s Peace Symposium. All of you, whether attending for the first time or if you are our old are well aware that the Ahmadiyya Community friends, are very welcome. We are truly grateful practices exactly what it preaches and that that you have enlightened this event with your whatever we say and do is based on true Islamic presence. The majority of you are non-Muslims teachings – which are of ‘Love for All, Hatred for and so I particularly appreciate your gesture in None’ . However, as I have said, we also have coming, considering that you are all aware that some new friends in attendance today and it is the Ahmadiyya Community is an Islamic sect. quite possible that they may harbour some Generally speaking, attending the function of doubts or suspicions about us or about Islam, another group irrespective of religious and so I would like to reassure them from the differences is not rare or all that significant. outset. The truth is they will hardly find anyone or any group who is more opposed to cruelty, We often find people who despite differences of extremism and injustice as we Ahmadi Muslims belief are able to develop very close friendships are. To establish the highest standards of love, with one another, due to their open hearts and affection and brotherhood are our objectives. broad-mindedness. Nonetheless, there are a number of reasons why your attendance is With these words of introduction I now turn particularly praise-worthy and significant. towards the main theme of tonight’s event. Each Firstly, the very fact that you have accepted the year, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in the invitation of a Muslim group is significant. United Kingdom organises this function as a Secondly, the fact that you are willingly means to express and show the people of the attending a function taking place within the world that we desire and strive for a world filled complex of a mosque is noteworthy and thirdly, with peace. In order to attain this wonderful the acts of certain so-called Muslims have led to objective we also require your help and support. fears or reservations developing in the hearts of Thus today, we have joined together to remind many non-Muslims. ourselves about the importance of this aim. Bearing all of this in mind, we extremely To strive for peace is a noble ambition and is appreciate that you have taken this kind and something that the world has always stood in considerate step. Our old non-Ahmadi friends 5 great need of. If we look at the situation of the As I said, there is a long list of reasons why the world today, we realise that now, more than ever, world is being consumed by hatred and disorder it is a pressing and urgent need of the time for us and I have only mentioned a few. These issues to seek and pursue peace and harmony in the are of grave concern and we must reflect over world. During the past four or five years, the how to solve them, so we can seek to establish various disasters and forms of unrest that have global peace. Enmities and differences are occurred or are occurring, have led directly to an increasing daily and are rapidly spiralling out of increase in restlessness and disorder. There is no control. The state of the world is going from bad doubt that with each day that passes the peace of to worse. Something which has been said in the the world is ebbing away. We cannot attribute the past, which is very true, is that whilst it is world’s lack of peace on just one or two factors. extremely difficult to make a good friend, it is In fact there are multiple factors which are all very easy to make an enemy. If we look at the contributing to the increasing disorder. I shall world today, we find that from the very smallest name just a few. scale of society, to a national and international level, these are the circumstances that are The world’s economic crisis has contributed prevalent. Not only do people espouse hatred hugely to global unrest and increased and carry out evil acts but they are also inciting frustrations amongst the masses. Another major others towards such cruelties and oppression. On cause of division is internal power struggles the one hand, the numbers of those who are within countries. Then, in many nations, the causing conflicts is ever-increasing, whilst on the rights due to members of the public are being other hand the numbers of people who are unjustly usurped. Another factor is that some actually acting with justice, good morals and parties seek to demonstrate their power and trying to bring about reconciliation, is ever- might by treating others extremely cruelly. decreasing. With this backdrop, I say again, that Further, a root cause of division is a lack of justice the Ahmadiyya Community remains constantly in the world. This is leading directly to a engaged in striving for a better society and so complete lack of mutual confidence and trust. today’s event is also being conducted in an effort Another cause of unrest is the fact that people or to promote true and long-lasting peace. governments look at the wealth and resources of others with a sense of envy and greed. In fact, For the past five or six years, I have warned all they do not limit themselves to envious glances, of those within my reach, about the deteriorating but actually seek to seize what is not rightfully state of the world.