A Call for ‘Revolutionary Change’

Ayesha Naseem, Blackburn

In an address on Friday 1^st January 2021, the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, his Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad discussed the impact of the previous year meanwhile urging us all to strive in the upcoming months and year to bring about a revolutionary change in the state of the world.^[1]

Every New Year brings a sense of hope. Following the overwhelmingly difficult year that was 2020, people were more eager than usual to turn towards this New Year with a sense of optimism. The Covid-19 pandemic has, and continues to, affect millions of lives around the world, not just medically but also socially, economically and even politically. It has exhausted mankind. However, this pandemic will eventually end, God-willing, and one glimmer of hope for us all is the approval of Covid-19 vaccines by several countries, which offers us a chance to suppress the extremely rapid increase of infection rates.

Despite the vaccine presenting a way out of the pandemic and an end to restrictions, there are still many far-reaching consequences that the world will have to deal with in the coming years. At the forefront is the economy; countries around the world are struggling to cope with the increasing burden on their economies as a result of consecutive lockdowns and many have been plunged into poverty. Furthermore international relationships have suffered increasing tensions and upheaval. In November last year, the head of the UK armed forces, warned that the world faced a very real threat of a third world war, citing the economic crisis and the risk of regional conflicts escalating further as reasoning for his view ^[2]. It should be mentioned here that the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad has been warning the world about this threat for over a decade. Addressing guests at the National Peace Symposium in 2019, His Holiness stated:

“…The tragic and devastating truth is that each year, instead of pulling back from war and conflict, the opposite is proving true. Rivalries are intensifying, new battle lines are being drawn, whilst existing hostilities show little sign of abating.
Though we are all aware that we are passing through difficult times, most people do not realise the extent to which the relations between certain nations have deteriorated and how potentially disastrous the consequences could prove to be.”^[3]

Islam places considerable emphasis on serving humanity and urges Muslims to strive towards betterment for all the world. Chapter 3 of the Holy Qur’an states:

“You are the best people ever raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in Allah…” ^[4]

In June last year, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad wrote letters to several world leaders, emphasising the dire need for humanity to recognise its Creator and to fulfil the rights of one another and to eradicate all forms of injustice and cruelty. Directly addressing all leaders in which he advised the following:

“…as the leader of your nation, you should also encourage the citizens of your country to fulfil the rights of one another and to be ready to make personal sacrifices in the cause of humanity.” ^[5]

In light of all the challenges confronting us, we must not lose hope and most importantly, should not forget Allah the Almighty’s promise that there is ease after hardship [94:6] ^[6]. On an individual level, it may feel as if our effort does not count towards overall change, but it is this thought exactly that needs to be replaced with the dedication to play our own part in making the world around us a better place. We must all strive for what His Holiness referred to as a ‘revolutionary change.’ Collective change in society and the world as a whole can only come when we as individuals fulfil the rights of mankind without discrimination and educate people about their Creator- Who is the Most Benevolent and Merciful. More than ever before, we must put kindness and compassion first and do whatever it takes to look out for those in need and to support them. Whether it is giving charity, feeding the poor or simply asking someone how they are doing. 2020 taught us that we can only succeed if we protect the vulnerable, let’s make this year be the one where we put others first.

References:

1. Summary of Friday sermon delivered by Khalifatul Masih V . Jan 1^st 2021. Published in Review of Religions. Available at URL:[https://www.reviewofreligions.org/27642/friday-sermon-summary-1st-january-2021-rightly-guided-caliphs-hazrat-ali-ra/]
2.  ‘Risk of a new World War’, Sky News. Available at URL: [https://news.sky.com/story/risk-of-new-world-war-is-real-head-of-uk-armed-forces-warns-12126389]
3. True and Sustainable World Peace. An address by Khalifatul Masih V. Published by Review of Religions. Available at URL: [https://www.reviewofreligions.org/14665/true-and-sustainable-world-peace/]
4. The Holy Qur’an with English translation by Malawi Sher Ali, Chapter 3 verse 111.
5. Letters Sent to World Leaders by Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community During Covid-19 Pandemic (2020). Published by Review of Religions. Available at URL: [https://www.reviewofreligions.org/26918/letters-sent-to-world-leaders-by-head-of-ahmadiyya-muslim-community-during-covid-19-pandemic/#leaderssame]
6. The Holy Qur’an with English translation by Malawi Sher Ali, Chapter 94 verse 6.