AMIDST ongoing wars between Hamas and Isreali armed forces in Palestine, as well as Ukraine and Russia forces, the world head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad, has called for ceasefire among the warring parties.
He made this call on Saturday in his keynote address at the 18th National Peace Symposium of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, United Kingdom, held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in the United Kingdom.
Hazrat Masroor Ahmad said the wars have led to millions of deaths, loss of property and untold economic hardship to the entire world.
He recalled that thousands of people are now refugees across the world and some have been maimed for life.
The event, hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom, was attended by more than 1,200 people, including about 550 dignitaries and guests who had gathered from 30 countries, comprising of ambassadors of state, Members of Parliament and academics.
The theme of this year’s symposium, ‘Building a Sustainable Peace’ highlighted the key ways to achieve lasting peace in the light of ongoing global conflicts.
One of the features of the peace symposium is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize which is awarded in recognition of an individual’s or an organisation’s contributions to the advancement of peace.
This year, two peace prizes were awarded to Adi Roche, founder of the Chernobyl Children International (CCI) and David Spurdle, founder of the charity, Stand By Me.
While Roche was recognised recognised for her long-lasting post-Chernobyl disaster efforts with the ‘2020 Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace’, the Ahmadiyya world leader presented Spurdle with the ‘2023 Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace’ for his “remarkable support” for orphans and underprivileged children across the world.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad emphasised the need for nations to place premium on justice in order to avoid a global conflict.
Speaking on the present-day conflicts, he said that just like the Russia and Ukraine war, the conflict between Israel and Palestine “is also geopolitical and territorial” as opposed to being a religious war.
He said: “I firmly believe there is only one way to end these wars – by ensuring that justice prevails and that whatever settlements are made are based on equity, as opposed to what better serves the interests of external powers.”
The Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stated that he took no satisfaction in the fact that politicians and commentators were now reaching the same conclusions that he had long warned the world about for over two decades. Rather, he felt only regret that necessary efforts had not been made to bring an end to inequality, injustice and warfare.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad called for a cessation of the two major wars raging currently.
He said: “Certainly, it is my opinion that there should be a full ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and also in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Thereafter, instead of inciting their respective allies towards further warfare, all members of the international community should prioritise ensuring relief efforts are stepped up to help those in desperate need and focus on bringing about a lasting and peaceful settlement.
“We must all come together, setting aside national, political, and other vested interests for the greater good of humanity and to ensure that we leave behind a prosperous world for our future generations.
“It is the need of the time that we must focus all our energies and efforts on establishing true peace so that we may live in a world of hope and prosperity, rather than a world defined by inequality, hatred and bloodshed.”
He reiterated that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community “continues to use all the means available to work towards establishing peace in the world, and will continue to do so without fear of any sanctions.”
He explained how the teachings of Islam in relation to warfare and the creation of peace are “extremely important today at a time when several wars are being fought where these principles are not being adhered to.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated that although in extreme circumstances, the founders of the major religions, including the Holy Prophet Muhammad, permitted the use of limited force, it was always “solely with the intention of ending warfare and oppression.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community world head has been speaking to world leaders for over two decades and warning of the need for the leaders to administer true justice to ensure peace.
Prior to the Ahmadiyya leader’s address, several dignitaries addressed the audience, including the winners of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace, as well as the National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK, Mr Rafiq Hayat.
Representatives of several political parties also addressed the peace symposium.
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