Ayesha Naseem, Blackburn
In a few days time, Armistice Day will be commemorated across the world, with special remembrance services around the UK and the USA.
The only question I have is, how? How will the world leaders commemorate Remembrance Day and repeat the slogan of Lest we forget when in real time, in front of all of us history is being repeated? How can we observe a minute’s silence for the victims of the First World War when at the same time, Palestinians in Gaza are pleading for a ceasefire, but their cries and protests are being blatantly undermined.
I, for one, have always been fascinated by history and have a strong belief in its remembrance and preservation so future generations can learn from it and not repeat what people before them had done. But my own words fail me when I see the devastating images and videos coming from the Gaza Strip of men, women, children, the elderly and the disabled on a daily basis.
History negates us the honest authority to mourn the past if we cannot spare a thought of sympathy and compassion for those that are suffering in front of us. If we cannot feel the pain of Palestinian men, women, children, medics, teachers, journalists and even animals, then how do we justify mourning those who suffered the same way in the past? History testifies that no one spoke up for them back then. This begs the question, with what authority do we speak for them now? Aren’t we doing the same to the Palestinians?
His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (may Allah be his Helper) has been repeatedly emphasising that this world cannot and will not achieve peace until there is absolute justice.
Media coverage, stances of Western and Muslim leaders alike, and the narrative that has been pushed to justify every international law that has been broken in this past month are tiring. How can demanding a ceasefire be so controversial and be treated as something illegitimate? Do we want a world where war is the norm, and peace is the outcast?
At the National Peace Symposium held in March this year, His Holiness reiterated his concern that the world stands on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe and that “…rather than learn from the horrors of the past, the world is once again engulfed by warfare and conflict.” [1]
In light of the situation with Israel and Palestine more recently, His Holiness said, “as long as [world leaders] do not courageously strive for a ceasefire, they are invariably responsible for taking the world towards destruction.” [2]
History will always exist. Every single thing that is happening now, will be documented, recorded, and kept. It will be taught in schools and universities some decades later. Generations of the future will ask what went so wrong that it was all out in the open, yet no one stepped up to end it.
Under the blessed guidance of the fifth and current worldwide head of the Community His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper), Ahmadiyya Muslim Community International has launched a campaign of “Voices for Peace”. The aim is to raise global awareness about the situation in Gaza and to urge leaders and governments to facilitate an immediate and complete ceasefire.
Today, more than ever, it is imperative that we are among the #voicesforpeace. Regardless of our religion, nationality, or background, we need to do our part by raising awareness about the injustices and be among those who are at the forefront of demanding the restoration of peace in this world.
Even in extreme helplessness, we can still hope.
So, let’s leave a legacy for our future generations that we tried everything we could in our means.
In the blessed words and prayers of His Holiness:
“May Allah enable the major powers to fulfil the obligations of justice on both sides of the conflict in order to establish peace…” Ameen. [3]
References:
[1] https://www.reviewofreligions.org/41807/recognising-god-the-key-to-unlocking-peace/
[3] https://www.pressahmadiyya.com/press-releases/2023/10/global-muslim-leader-calls-for-de-escalation-of-palestine-israel-war/ReplyForward
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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