By Imam Marwan Sarwar Gill, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Argentina
Last year, Astana turned into a shining beacon when it hosted in September 2025 faith leaders from around the world under the banner of peace, fraternity and hope. At a time where humanity is dragged into unending confrontations, conflicts and divisions merely the fact that more than 60 religious delegations came together was a healing remedy for the bleeding souls.
Whilst the world is rapidly heading towards another World War the motto “Synergy between religions as a driving force for hope and reconciliation” expressed the urgent need for this type of gatherings and initiatives. The emblematic image of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists sitting around the round table undermines that “faith unites rather than divides”. It was a beautiful reminder for our wider societies that interfaith collaboration does not seek to eliminate differences, but rather to turn diversity into a source of mutual enrichment.
I highly appreciate the efforts of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions as it highlights that we need to build more bridges, and less walls. In fact, at an era when there are increasingly more voices on international platforms advocating a return to a period of ‘medieval crusades’ or a division between ‘West vs. East,’ the meeting of the Secretariat beautifully reflects that the solution is not more division, but more unity.
Hence, I am looking forward to the meeting of the Secretariat as it will provide valuable opportunities to listen to ‘the other’ and foster our relations. It is important to clarify that dialogue with “the other” does not mean renouncing your own identity or denying your principles but rather listening and seeking similarities with “the other”. In fact, the Holy Qur’an, in chapter 3, verse 65, emphasises that it is essential for religions to be in harmony and stresses that, as Muslims, it is our responsibility to build bridges in order to seek the common values that unite us all, whether we are Jews, Christians, Muslims or followers of any other religion. With this Islamic premise in mind, in representation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community I thank the President of Kazakhstan and the ICIID centre for their commitment towards interfaith harmony and fraternity.
In conclusion, the initiatives of the ICIID centre reaffirm my conviction that interfaith dialogue is a fundamental pillar for creating more just and harmonious societies. Peace, which we all desire and which is the essence of all religions, requires a joint effort. In my case, as Muslim and Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Argentina I firmly believe that justice is the pillar and foundation stone to construct peace and harmony from the lowest daily affairs as the relationship between husband wife up to the widest scale of relations between nations and countries. In this regard, Islam teaches that justice is the required element to produce peace. And when we speak about justice it means same rights for everyone, even for your opponents, rivals or enemies. The contradiction and main obstacle of not achieving peace is the double standard when we desire selective peace, selective justice and selective human rights.
The first chapter of the Holy Quran provides a very deep and insightful truth and declares that God is the Lord of all people and all mankind. So, your Creator is someone who just doesn’t desire your peace and wellbeing, but for his entire creation. That’s also the reason that the Holy Prophet during his last pilgrimage declared the basement of universal justice and peace when he announces that no Arab has superiority over a No-Arab and vice versa, and no white man has superiority over a black person.
Islam goes that far and demands that one should uphold justice and the truth even if requires to go and renounce your own interest, or your family’s or your tribes’ interests. It emphasises that much on justice that in the Holy Quran it is stated then even the enmity towards a people should not deprive or mislead you from upholding justice.
May God allow us to be beacons of justice and peace in our surroundings and create this butterfly effect in our societies. Amen