Provided by Masroor Mosque Manassas
The “Concept of Peace in Religion” interfaith event was held in Masroor Mosque on Saturday, October 25, 2025. In addition to the members from Masroor Mosque congregation, the event was attended by 65 interfaith guests.
Guests were graciously welcomed upon arrival, and 30 minutes were dedicated for socialization. During that time, many of the guests visited and showed interest in the exhibition of the Holy Quran translated in different languages by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Guests were also interested in other literature related to the topic of “Peace” on display, in particular the book titled “World Crises and Pathway to Peace” by His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Guests also took interest in observing members offering congregational prayers led by Imam Salman Tariq. Before the formal start of the event, lunch was served, which guests thoroughly enjoyed.
The event commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran, from Chapter 59, verses 19-25, followed by an English translation.
Kareemullah Kaleem, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Masroor Mosque Chapter, who was presiding at the event, welcomed all attendees, expressing gratitude for their presence at this event focused on the concept of peace in religion. He highlighted the importance of dialogue, understanding, and cooperation in today’s divisive world, encouraging attendees to foster new connections and friendships.
President Anthony Solomon from Ner Shalom Congregation shared insights from the Jewish tradition that Prophet Moses received directly from God in the form of Torah. He explained that peace (shalom) is more than nonviolence; it encompasses wholeness and completeness. He emphasized the importance of justice, truth, and a well-structured society based on God’s principles as the foundation for true peace.
Thereafter, Zeeshan Ahmad, who was the event moderator, read a press release by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA regarding the Sept. 28 attack on a church in Michigan expressing heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families and the broader community and urged all members of society, regardless of faith, to unite in rejecting hatred, violence, and intolerance.
President Chris Blair from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reflected on the recent tragedy in Michigan and the support received from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Masroor Mosque. He appreciated the delegation from the mosque who came over to their congregation with flowers and expressed their condolences exemplifying brotherhood after the incident. He shared the sentiments of numerous members of his congregation who felt it was a special experience for them in the spirit of unity and peace. He highlighted the importance of focusing on commonalities among faiths, citing teachings of Jesus Christ on love, forgiveness, and being peacemakers as guiding principles.
Mr. Devinder Singh from Sikh Center of Virginia discussed the Sikh perspective on peace, emphasizing the need to conquer one’s mind and control desires such as ego, lust, anger, and greed. He highlighted the importance of justice, equality, and recognizing the divine light in everyone as a pathway to achieving world peace. He said that we need to stand for everybody who is oppressed, not just limit it to our own faith, to establish peace.
Alaji Abdulatifi from Sierra Leonean Muslim Community conveyed condolences to the Latter-day Saints community and stressed Islam’s commitment to promoting peace, justice, and compassion. He highlighted the Quranic teachings on coexistence and mutual respect, advocating for dialogue and understanding across faiths.
Sergeant Steven Curtis from Stafford County Sheriff’s Office shared his experiences as a chaplain and emphasized the role of law enforcement in fostering community unity. He highlighted the importance of setting aside differences and working together to meet basic human needs, reinforcing the concept of service and solidarity.
Imam Salman Tariq from Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spoke on the Islamic perspective of peace, focusing on justice as the root of societal harmony. He began with the Islamic greeting of peace, “May peace and blessings of God be upon all of you,”. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to discuss the Islamic perspective on peace, and the solutions Islam offers to establish it in society. Imam Tariq identified the lack of justice as the root cause of societal ills, including racial discrimination, religious intolerance, and gender inequality. Citing the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his helper), Imam Tariq reiterated that the world’s unrest stems from a lack of justice at all societal levels. Only by recognizing the Creator can humanity establish true justice and achieve peace on individual, communal, and global scales. He addressed several societal injustices and how Islam proposes solutions:
Racism: The Quran teaches that all humans, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, are equal, and the most honorable are the most righteous. This equality among races is a foundation for peace.
Gender Inequality: Islam empowered women with rights centuries ago, advocating for their equal participation in society. He underscored that righteousness is the only measure of superiority, not gender.
Religious Intolerance: Islam promotes religious freedom and tolerance, with the Quran teaching that there is no compulsion in religion. He lamented recent acts of violence against religious places and called for adherence to religious teachings to foster peace.
Drug Abuse: The opioid crisis and related societal issues were highlighted as destructive forces against peace. He stressed the importance of collective efforts to address these problems.
Imam Tariq concluded by emphasizing the need to recognize personal responsibility in establishing peace. Citing a meeting between a city mayor and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Caliph, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Imam Tariq shared the advice that peace stems from fulfilling responsibilities rather than demanding rights. Justice in fulfilling the responsibilities owed is the key to achieving societal peace.
Before closing, President of Masroor Mosque chapter Kareemullah Kaleem again thanked all the attendees and speakers.
The event concluded with silent prayers. The gathering fostered a spirit of unity and mutual understanding, creating a platform for continued dialogue and collaboration among diverse faith communities. Attendees shared positive reflections on the event, highlighting the educational and unifying experiences. The importance of such gatherings in promoting peace and understanding was reiterated, with calls for more frequent interfaith interactions build bridges and foster harmony.
