Combating Racism - 40th World Religions Conference
Farhan Khokhar
National Vice President
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada
Introductory Remarks at 40th World Religions Conference on Combating Racism
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you!
On behalf of the World Religions Conference, it is my honour to welcome everyone today. Some of you are present here at the Baitul Kareem Mosque, and many more are participating in this conference via video link.
We welcome and thank you all!
We have received messages from dignitaries from across the Country. You have just seen and heard some of the video messages. We are honoured to have received congratulatory comments from the Prime Minister and from the Governor General.
Each message acknowledged that the theme of Combating Racism is the need of the time.
Indeed, we are living through a period where racial tensions and prejudices are escalating. Many of these tensions are based on notions of inequality.
The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, his holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has highlighted an urgent need to recognise that all people were born equal, and no race or nation is superior to any other.
At a conference in Germany, he said:
“In words that were as timeless as they were enlightened, The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) proclaimed that all people were born equal and that a white person was not superior to a black and nor was a black person superior to a white… Brandishing an eternal torch illuminating the path towards universal human rights, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) pronounced that all human beings were born equal and had the same rights.” (Annual Convention Germany 2017)
Despite this sage guidance, brotherhood and love between human beings is rare. All over the world there is fighting and hatred, not only between different races and religions, but also between people of the same nationality and even the same faith.
It is therefore the responsibility of Religions, especially Faith Leaders, to abandon all prejudices towards others, develop a love for all humanity and uphold the special quality of brotherhood among people regardless of their faith.
The Holy Qur’an guides us on racial equality:
“O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes for the sake of easy recognition. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of God, is the most righteous among you. Surely, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. “(49:15)
I hope that today’s discussions will help us get rid of all the national and racial prejudices. Faith leaders today will guide society to set very high targets, free of all prejudices so that humanity can advance towards goodness for each other.
May Allah bless you all!