Source: Times of Malta
By Laiq Ahmed Atif, who is president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Malta.
At the beginning of every year, many share greetings and wish one another a happy and prosperous new year. People make their plans and road maps for the coming year to make their lives better, full of happiness and prosperity. The year begins with messages of hope and great aspirations with great expectations of a better future.
Some strive to experience a better spirituality and moderate life; some restrict their expectations to the acquisition of worldly benefits and achievements of one kind or another such as good health, financial security, matrimonial contentment, friendships, success in studies, improvement in business and profession, and acquisition of property, etc.
The worldly achievements are also blessings and should be cherished too. There is, however, the experience of spiritual happiness and prosperity which far exceed that of worldly satisfaction.
Having personal resolutions and setting some goals for future are well and good but I think we must make collective resolutions that will affect all of us, in one way or another.
Recently, in a special reception in Nagoya, Japan, the head of the Ahmadiyya Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, conveyed a strong message of establishing peace, unity, reconciliation and solidarity with each other. He spoke clearly about the need of peace, unity and security and combating violence and extremism; avoiding every possibility of war and conflict. I believe this is a great collective resolution that needs the input of all of us.
He said: “In my capacity as head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, I have been constantly warning the people and nations of the world that it is imperative that we spread love and affection in today’s world, rather than spreading hatred and igniting grievances among one another. The need of the time is for us to step forward with a spirit of reconciliation because if we do not become true ambassadors of peace, a great calamity could easily befall the world.”
Categories: Europe and Australia, Malta