A. Abdul Aziz. Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – Sri Lanka.

 (Given below is an address by Dr. Ifthikar Ayaz (OBE.) at the Peace Symposium organized by Ahmadiyya Community, Greece on 30 May 2015.)

  Let me express my deep sense of gratitude for your presence here this afternoon.

May I begin, by saying that the single most important malady of the world today is the absence of peace.

In the contemporary world, man, as a whole, has reached a high standard of achievement in material progress made possible by the advancement of science and technology in every sphere of human requirement.

Nevertheless, in general man is not content. There is growing restlessness, fear, premonition, anxiety and lack of trust in the future. Some countries in Europe and elsewhere in the world last year observed the centenary of the First World War. It certainly confounds human mind to realise that the spark that triggered the explosion of the First World War came from the two shots but that was not the only cause of that gigantic holocaust which resulted in the destruction of 16 million people and many towns and cities. There were other factors and elements, political, social and economic, which were not dissimilar to what we are witnessing today which led to the World War.

Rightfully, many historian and political analysts are seriously cautioning the world leaders to take heed and avoid the path to another War which may be far more destructive than anyone can imagine. It is therefore the responsibility and the role of world leaders both political and religious, to act judiciously with justice to resolve all the conflicts and hostilities and unite in choosing and following the way to peace.

This is the message which is the prime object of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide today. Its leader, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who is the fifth Successor of the Founder of the Community, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the Promised Messiah (PBUH), has been travelling to the major capitals of the world delivering lectures on the Path to Peace. Some of his lectures have been published and translated into several languages. He addressed the members of the European Parliament in Brussels and the Senators and Congressmen in Capitol Hill in America and the Parliamentarians in Australia and New Zealand and UK and several other countries.

The fact is that the pace at which peace seems to be disappearing is causing great anxiety and worry to religious people and those who do not believe in any religion.  In my humble submission, I will present to you the teachings that are given in our Holy Scripture – the Holy Quran to lead us to the Path of establishing peace on earth.  The vision of God that is given in the Holy Quran with reference to peace is:

He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Exalted” (Ch. 59: V24).

Similarly, according to the attributes of God that have been mentioned in the Holy Quran, God dislikes those who violate peace.  According to our belief, He metes out punishment to them, if not in this world then certainly in the next.  And, he who spreads peace, security and love here, God will bless him in this world as well as in the next.

All religions according to Islam endeavoured to bring man back to his Creator on the one hand, and to establish an ideal relationship with his fellow human beings on the other.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community upholds this fundamental point of love and peace and extends it to others, and believes Peace can be established in this world only when everyone recognises God and understands this point that it is by loving the Creator alone that we can love His creation.

This will increase our vision that we have not only to establish peace in our own surroundings, but also create peace and security in the whole world.  In short, to establish true peace, we must also understand the spirit of true justice.  How can we establish true justice and what is its spirit?

In this connection, God Almighty, who calls himself King of all kings in the Holy Quran, tells us that peace will only come about with justice and benevolence.

In The Holy Quran God Almighty says:

O Ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice.  Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness.  And fear Allah.  Surely, Allah is aware of what you do.”  (Ch 5: V9)

The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (PBH) states in this respect, while explaining this verse:

Allah the Almighty says about justice that it cannot be achieved without truthfulness, that your enmity towards others should not hinder you from dispensing justice.  Remain just because righteousness lies in it.  Today we are witnessing some States and rulers that unjustly harm and hurt and cause bloodshed of their own people.  It is not easy to deal justly with such people.  But, the Holy Quran has not taken away the rights of even such mortal enemies and has enjoined to remain steadfast in pursuing the path of justice and truthfulness”.

Therefore, the foundation of justice will be laid in this world only when each and every individual of the society realises that he has to win the pleasure of his Creator and has to follow His Commandments; and it is such individuals who collectively try to create peace on a broad basis.

Although this Commandment of God Almighty is addressed to Muslims, it holds a status of a charter for all humanity for general peace in the whole world.

The Holy Quran says:

And if two parties of believers fight against each other, make peace between them, then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah.  Then, if it returns, make peace between them with equity, and act justly.  Verily, Allah loves the just.”  (Ch 49: V10).

This great teaching can guarantee peace within the States, and amongst the Nations and the world but we must rise above personal and political interests; only then can we act in this manner.  If today, the world community adopts this divine principle stipulated in the Holy Quran for all countries, great and small, then the injustices related to distribution of resources and wealth or suppressing other countries or their people can be nipped in the bud.

Distribution of wealth and resources is key to the sustenance of justice and peace within countries, Regions and the world at large.

Although the UNO and some of the world’s countries are trying to do something, their efforts ignore the dimension of the Creator and in whatever they do their personal and political interests become paramount. When this happens, it often becomes difficult to fulfil the requirements of true justice and equity.  In this respect, Islam teaches:

Verily, Allah enjoins justice and the doing of good to others.”  (Ch 16:  V.91).

We can see many such examples in the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBOH) and Islamic history.  We witness in that a real urge for peace that comes from the heart, and truly the voice that comes from the heart is the only one that can establish real peace because it is based on love and warmth.

For instance on arrival at Medina, after his emigration from Mecca, the Prophet devoted himself to the organisation of the city.  The Prophet’s sense of conciliation and harmony quickly realised that a lasting peace was only possible if it was based on goodwill and support of all sections of the society.  With this objective in mind, the Prophet formulated a Charter for the people of Medina which was also known as the Constitution of Medina.

Under this Charter, all blood feuds were abolished and equal rights were given to all residents of the city.  Fighting and killing was so abhorring to the Prophet’s nature that seldom in the many armed conflicts in which he participated, did he actually use his own weapon.  Most of the time, even during the heat of the battle, he preferred to pray to his Lord rather than injure another human being.

As the Muslims started to exercise greater influence in Medina, the Holy Prophet’s keen vision perceived possible deprivation of the rights of certain minorities.  To safeguard against such an eventuality, the Prophet (PBOH) granted a special Charter to the Christians.  Under the terms of this Charter, the Christians were free to practise their faith and carry out their pilgrimage and no unfair taxation was to be imposed upon them.  No churches were to be pulled down for the building of mosques and the Muslims were in fact required to help the Christians in the repair of their churches.

The conquest of Mecca itself is a glowing example of the Prophet’s love for peace.  All historians agree that in the history of conquests, there has never been a more triumphant entry than this one.  Hardly any blood was shed and all the enemies were pardoned.  The Muslims had been tortured in this city and were eventually driven out of it.  The residents of this city had perpetrated heinous acts against the Muslims and had not let them live in peace even after their emigration to Medina.  They had persecuted them when they lived in Mecca, and had waged three battles against them even when they had left the city.  But on this day, when the enemy lay vanquished, helpless and at the mercy of Muslims, a general pardon was declared and no revenge was taken.  Some of his arch enemies could not believe their own ears that such a general forgiveness could indeed be granted by the Prophet.  Such examples of greatness and such love of peace and forgiveness are truly rare in the history of conquests.

Recurrently, at numerous instances the Holy Quran emphatically condemns the use of force against disbelievers or for that matter against anyone.  We read:

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

And if thy Lord had enforced His will, surely, all who are on the earth would have believed together.  Wilt thou, then, force men to become believers?” (10:100).

And again Allah says:

This is the truth from your Lord; let him who will, believe, and let him who will, disbelieve.” (18:30).

In contrast to force, the Holy Quran encourages believers to invite others to faith in a pleasant manner.

Allah says:

Invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and comely admonishment and argue with them in the best manner”. (16:126).

The Holy Quran categorically forbids coercion or compulsion in matters of faith.  Islam ensures everyone the freedom of faith and belief.  This strongly dispels the misapprehension about the purpose of ‘Jihad’ which is an Arabic word meaning to strive or to struggle for a good purpose.  The Holy Prophet (PBOH) said that the real jihad, the greater jihad, is to strive for self reformation and spiritual advancement.

Today the Jihad is to enlighten humanity through the power of the pen and media and unify mankind in bonds of fraternity and love of God to achieve eternal peace in this world and the hereafter.

Unfortunately, in the world of today, in some quarters, there is the notion of Islamophobia.  Islam is portrayed as a religion sanctioning violence, extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism.  The fact is that in Islam human life is sacrosanct and any act related to violence or disrupting the peace is to incite the wrath of God Almighty.  In reality, all these terms have no connection with Islam or its teachings at all.  They are forms of deviant criminal human behaviour which is abhorred not only by Islam but by all religions.

Basically, Islam structures a society which is founded on the spirit of true fraternity where the blood of a Muslim is unlawful upon another Muslim.  What a beautiful teaching imbued with the love of God and humanity, condoning purity of heart and mind and emphasizing the fact that in Islam punishment is a forceful positive power of rectification, moral rehabilitation and reformation for the sustenance of a pure God-loving society.

Stoning to death or executing people for apostasy or blasphemy are not Islamic practices. God has taken on Himself to determine and accord punishment for such crimes.

Thus the foundation of peace rests upon the love of the Creator in our hearts and proper respect of human life and recognition of the rights of all individuals.

Today, in every country people of different religions live side by side.  Therefore, it is necessary and it is the need of the time that within our cosmopolitan societies, the bond of love and affection should be strengthened.  Respect and honour for one another should be inculcated.  Allegiance to one’s country should be infused amongst the entire society, and most importantly, the love of God should be instilled in the hearts of the people.  The members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are admonished to always remain absolutely loyal and law abiding to the country in which they reside and never join in any protests or demonstrations to disrupt peace.  Peace is not something that is practised only at the level of the State, but it begins in the very homes where people live with their families.  This deep and profound philosophy of peace is so elegantly preserved in the farewell address of the Holy Prophet (PBOH) given during his last Pilgrimage to Mecca.  It was his last will and testament to the Muslims and indeed to entire mankind.  The Prophet’s farewell sermon was devoted more to the theme of establishing a lasting peace among people than anything else.  His injunctions to respect the life and possessions of other people; his exhortation to treat other people with justice and equity; his constant reminder to take care of wives, and the respect and rights of women, and to be like brothers to each other; his parting injunctions to forget all blood-shed – these are fundamental principles of constructing a peaceful society and harmony and accord among the various factions of a society.

It is a very painful reality that some of the Muslim States which have this beautiful Charter from Allah for the establishment of peace, not only in their own States but all over the world, have discarded it and are reaping its bitter consequences.  In a Friday Sermon, delivered from London, the present Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community admonished the leaders and the rulers of the Muslim States to turn to Righteousness with the fear of Allah in their hearts and fulfil their obligations to Allah and their people and follow the path of justice and equity leading on to the way to peace. He has repeatedly cautioned world leaders to avoid the path of destruction which may turn into an uncontrollable nuclear warfare for entire world.

In order to follow the way to peace, nations must ensure that there is compassion towards all without discrimination, respect for and implementation of the inalienable human rights which are a fundamental requirement for justice, democracy and peace.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community today presents to the world a pristine pure model of Islam and it is moving on to convey the message of Islam and light the beacons of Peace in every corner of the world.  The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is here in Greece as well with its message of peace and love for all and hatred for none.

The Ahmadiyya Community worldwide by the blessings and true following of the Charter of peace of Islam has laid down the foundation of a society which is governed by the rule of God’s Law to ensure peace, purity, security, justice, equality and prosperity for all humanity without any discrimination or distinction whatsoever with the sanctity and dignity of human life to prevail.

It is our prayer that Greece, which historically is the seat of democracy, justice and peace, may continue to flourish and become a monument effusing the shine of peace in Europe and the rest of the world.

God bless Greece, God bless the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Greece and God bless you all and reward you and your families with His love abundantly.

And my last words are that All Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!”