The 2025 annual convention by the Ahmadiyya Muslims surprised with the theme “Promised Messiah: A Beacon of Light for the Modern Age”.
The Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the concept of a messiah, a saviour who would come and bring ultimately peace to the world.
Keynote speaker Mustenser Oamar, a young Ahmadiyya Imam based in Wellington, compared the current situation in the world with a “Vessel of Peace” that is filled with selfishness and injustice.
He named 3 universal principles of peace that are embedded in all major faiths:
1. Absolute Justice
2. Elimination of Greed
3. Compassion and Selflessness
While we might all agree that these principles are cornerstones for peace among people, there is a problem: the question of accountability.
It is nice to talk about what principles should be followed, but if there is no accountability, the principles will lose their power.
Mustenser Oamar connected this accountability ultimately to the belief in a higher being.
While we can always count on God and God’s unceasing concern for us, we need to try to please God.
In today’s world, spirituality is in decline, and God sends a reformer to show us that God’s essence is mercy and peace. This reformer is the messiah.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya community, believed that all saviours and messiahs of religions were ultimately one.
God works through our efforts, but peace is not achievable solely through our own work.
Noah is a good example: he trusted in God, followed God’s instructions and built the ark. His son, however, believed that he was strong enough to fight all calamities – but he was wrong and paid for it with his life.
“Effort without prayer is like a light without oil” – true peace starts with a deep trust in God.
People of faith share so many values. At the core of most faiths is the belief in a higher being.
As Christians we believe in one God who is compassionate and patient with us. Our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers share this trust in a just God, and the commitment to show our love of God and of our neighbour.
We also share the belief that faith without deeds is dead: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26).
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