THE PATH TO PEACE
Posted on March 22nd, 2014

By A. Abdul Aziz.

 (Given below is the excerpt from the addresses delivered by the Head of the World-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad on various occasions in the recent time.)

 In today’s world we find so much strife, restlessness and disorder. In some countries members of the public are fighting and waging wars amongst themselves. In some nations the public is fighting against the government, or conversely the rulers are attacking their own people. Terrorist groups are fuelling anarchy and disorder to fulfill their vested interests and so they are arbitrarily killing innocent women, children and the elderly. In some countries, as a mean to fulfill their own interests, political parties are warring with each other rather than coming together for the betterment of their nations. We also find some government and countries are continuously casting their glances enviously in the direction of the resources of other nations. The major powers of the world are consumed by their efforts to maintain their supremacy and leave no stone unturned in their efforts towards pursuing this goal.

 Bearing all of this in mind, most of the people hold a desire for peace to be established and certainly they express their opinions and feelings that love, compassion and brotherhood should be established amongst all religions, all nationalities, all races and indeed, amongst all people.

 Despite the majority of the world harboring a desire for peace and wanting comfort, this is one question for which the world does not want to hear its solution. Or if the people want to attain the solution and live in comfort, they are not ready to follow the way that can lead to its attainment.

 It is important to always remember that human knowledge and intellect is not perfect, but is in fact limited. Thus, when making decisions or forming thoughts often  certain factors enter human minds, which can cloud judgment and lead to a person trying to fulfill his own rights. Ultimately, this can lead to an unjust outcome and decision being made. God’s Law , however, is perfect and so no vested interests or unfair provisions exist. This is because God only desires for the good and betterment of His creation and therefore, His Law is based entirely on justice. The day the people of the world come to recognize and understand this crucial point, will be the day that the foundation for true and everlasting peace will be laid. Otherwise, we continue to find that although efforts are endlessly made to establish world peace, yet they are unable to provide any worthwhile results.

 Peace is a concept which differs among the different schools of philosophies. However, in the major divinely revealed religions peace is not just one dimensional or individual concept. Peace is, first, to be at rest with one’s own desires and ambitions and having a balance, which is an internal affair, and then, secondly, to have peace with the world around and to assure everyone that one poses no threat of danger to them – ‘no danger will emanate from me in the other’s direction’. It is this wider concept of peace which you find in major religions. In this concept of peace, no one can be at peace with himself until he is also at peace with his neighbors and with others. This is also the concept of peace in Islam.

 In Islam, the concept of peace is two-fold. Firstly, to be at peace with God and then secondly, to be at peace with oneself and with the rest of the world. According to the Qur’anic concept of peace, no peace on earth can ever be conceived, not to mention established, by human effort. It cannot even be conceived theoretically without man finding God, the Creator, without recognizing the hand of the Creator universally at work in nature. So, once man recognizes his Creator then the second step is to be at peace with Him and this peace has dual this dual meaning. Firstly you are not to do anything which creates a distance between you and the Creator, and secondly submission. So both these meanings join hands at this stage.

 Submission to the will of God is the only meanings of attaining peace with God and this is a declaration which is proven by human experience. It has a profound wisdom which is universally experienced by man. If children are at peace with their parent, it is impossible for them to defy their orders and wishes and yet be at peace. Hence, if you delve deeper into the meaning of peace you will realize that ultimately the meaning of peace is submission.                     

 Islam makes clear that all people are born equal. Furthermore, in the final sermon ever delivered by the Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (PBUH) – he instructed all Muslims to always remember that an Arab is not superior to a non0Arab and nor is a non-Arab superior to an Arab.He taught that a white person is not superior to a black person and nor is a black person superior to a white person. Thus it is a clear teaching of Islam that the people of all nationalities and all races are equal. It is also made clear that all people should be granted equal rights without any discrimination or prejudice. This is the ke and golden principle that lays the foundation for harmony between different groups and nations, and for the establishment of peace.

 According to the Holy Qur’an all prophets are equal. This is essential for the establishment of inter-religious peace.

 Islam requires Muslims to believe not only in Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but also in all other prophets & saints of God including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Rama, Buddha, Mahavira, Confucius and Zoroaster and Baba Naik (peace be on them).

 Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

Verily, Allah enjoins justice and doing good others; and giving like kindred; and forbids indecency and manifest evil and transgression. He admonishes you thay you may take heed. (Ch.16: Verse; 91).

 This verse talks about three good and three evil deeds.

 The three good deeds are:

1.       Showing justice. 2. The doing of good to others. 3. giving like kindred.

 The three evil mentioned are:

1.       Exhibiting indecency 2. Manifesting evil, and 3, transgression.

 Going into the details of these good and evil deeds you will realize that the good deeds are the basics of establishing peace in a society and the evil deeds are the basics that lead to the destruction of social peace.

 Therefore, if we want to create peace in our society then we must sum all evils, promote good deeds and fulfill the rights of others selflessly. We must get rid of the poison of superiority complex.. We must eliminate distinction between superpower and the poor developing countries. We must get rid of all the national and racial prejudices. In this regard we will have to set very high targets, free of all prejudices so that humanity can advance in doing good to each other.

 Thus in conclusion, we would like to say that today we observe that the world has become a global village. Mankind has become very cl0osely knit together. The people of all nations, religions and cultures are found in all countries. This requires that the leaders and citizens of every nation should consider and respect the feelings and sentiments of all people. The leaders and their governments should strive to create laws that foster an environment and spirit of truth and justice, rather than making laws that are a means of causing distress and frustration to the people. Injustices and cruelties should be eliminated and instead we should strive for true peace.

 The best way to do this is that the world should come to recognize its Creator. Every form of loyalty should be linked to loyalty with God. If this occurs then we will come to witness with our own eyes that the very highest standards of loyalty will be established by the people of all countries and new avenues leading us to peace and security will open throughout the world.

 It has always been the practice of Almighty God that when Mankind forgets its Creator, God almighty sends His Prophets and Reformers. Holy Prophet (PBUH) and other world religions had prophesied about the coming of such reformer. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Jama’at) in Islam, claimed to be that prophesied reformer. About the purpose of his advent he himself claims:

 God has sent  me into the world so that through gentleness, Love and Kindness I should draw towards God and His Holy guidance  people who have gone astray, and should enable them to tread the right path with the Divine light that has been bestowed upon me. Man stands in need of such reasoning as would convince him that God does indeed exists, in as much as a great part of the world is being driven to ruin for lack of faith in the existence of God almighty and in His revealed guidance.

(The Essence of Islam: Volume IV Page. 111, 112.)

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is religious organization, with branches in more than 202 countries including Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, this Community was established in 1915. It is the most dynamic denomination in Islam in modern history, and was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835 – 1908) in March 23, 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 latter days). The Community (Jama’at) he established 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 Jama’at has expanded globally and it endeavors to practice the peaceful teachings of Islam by raising millions of rupees for charities, building schools and hospitals open to all and by encouraging learning through interfaith dialogue.

 After the demise of its founder in 1908, a system of spiritual leadership (Khilafath) was established as prophesied in the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet of Islam. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad was elected as the fifth Khalifa of the World-wide 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 that is ever wary of its responsibilities and ever vigilant for the honour of Islam, Holy Qur’an, Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Promised Messiah and service of humanity. To establish world peace he has written letters to various religious and political leaders of the world including His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Presidents of U.S.A., Iran and France and Prime Ministers of Canada, U.K., Israel, China, Chancellor of Germany and King of Saudi Arabia.

 The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (Jama’at) stands at one with the Khalifa in the remembrance of God and service of mankind.

2 Responses to “THE PATH TO PEACE”

  1. Lorenzo Says:

    “Islam requires Muslims to believe not only in Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but also in all other prophets & saints of God including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Rama, Buddha, Mahavira, Confucius and Zoroaster and Baba Naik (peace be on them).”

    Interesting!

    But what requires is not just BELIEVING. Muslims have to TOLERATE other beliefs.

    IF that happens there will be peace AT LEAST among Muslims.

    But SUNNIS will NEVER let this happen. They are the POWERFUL Muslims and the Muslim majority. Unfortunately they rule. SAD!

  2. Nanda Says:

    ““Islam requires Muslims to believe not only in Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but also in all other prophets & saints of God including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Rama, Buddha, Mahavira, Confucius and Zoroaster and Baba Naik (peace be on them).”

    ” The best way to do this is that the world should come to recognize its Creator. Every form of loyalty should be linked to loyalty with God. …..
    It has always been the practice of Almighty God that when Mankind forgets its Creator, God almighty sends His Prophets and Reformers.”

    1.Conflicting and foolish statement. Buddha, the prophet sent by God, according the writer came and said it is stupid to recognize a Creator. This writer trying to show a violent religion and peaceful.

    2. The worst way to do this is the world leave everything to God. Do all the crime, kill millions of people , kill billions of animals and believe God will forgive or even happy if animals killed to feed the poor. This takes out RESPONSIBILITY from mankind. When RESPONSIBILITY is taken out they become CRIMINALS.

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