Arshad Mehmood Khan, Scotland Correspondent
Majlis Ansarullah Glasgow held its “Peace Forum” in Kirkintilloch, Scotland, on 6 November 2022. More than 25 guests attended the event and received literature from our bookstall, which was set up in the hall. The guests also met with many Jamaat members and exchanged contact details; they further promised to attend our future events.
There were representatives from the Scottish Parliament, the Church of Scotland, local council, the Rotary Club of Scotland and a local charity who all shared their thoughts at the event on the topic of peace and what actions they are taking towards achieving it.
The programme started at 3 pm with the recitation of the Holy Quran with English translation, followed by introductory words by Ahmad Owusu Konadu Sahib about Islam Ahmadiyyat and Khilafat. He welcomed all guest speakers of other faiths and elaborated on the current issues relating to the world crisis and the pathway to peace. Further to this, the solutions that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa has given on many global platforms were also highlighted.
Deborah Carmichael, President of the Rotary Club of Scotland, said she was inspired a lot to learn about the Ahmadiyya Muslim community doing so much to triumph in peace and harmony and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressing this topic many times.
Shulamite Ezechi, from the Anyiso Charity organisation in Glasgow, thanked Majlis Ansarullah Glasgow for donating cooked and tinned food and other essentials to their food bank many times and said she was looking forward to making this partnership stronger.
Cllr Gillian Renwick, the Provost of East Dunbartonshire Council, attended our Jamaat event for the first time, met with many members at the event and welcomed us into her council. She spoke about the current global unrest and its solution, which is promoting peace in our society.
Hon Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden Constituency, said:
“I am proud to be anti-war and condemn the Ukraine invasion. I always raise my voice in every forum and appreciate the efforts being taken by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. I already attended one Peace Conference organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Scotland, where I took this positive message.”
Humayon Jahangeer Khan Sahib, a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Glasgow, delivered the address and said that as an Ahmadi Muslim, love for humanity is a vital part of our faith which is clear through our community’s slogan, “Love for all, hatred for none.” He said:
“Ever since our community was established in the UK in 1913, we have received nothing short of respect and love from our nation – which, no doubt, has been reciprocated ever since, through our community work.”
Wassem Ahmad Goraya Sahib, Zaeem Majlis Ansarullah Glasgow gave a vote of thanks and said his team worked hard to make this event a success on short notice. He thanked all speakers and attendees at this peace forum and pledged to work closely with local councils and charities for humanitarian support, especially for Ukrainian refugees and other needy people.