Over 30,000 Muslims from around the world converged in the United Kingdom at Oakland Farm in Hampshire for a three-day convention of the Ahmadiyya Islamic Movement, the 50th time the annual event has taken place.
On the final day, attendees were led by the global Caliph of the movement in a vow of peace and and a pledge of allegiance to their home countries.
“The only thing the terrorists are achieving is to completely violate the teachings of the Holy Quran and of the Holy Prophet Muhammad,” His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad told attendees.
“Let it be clear that they are not practising Islam, rather it seems as though they have invented their own hate-filled and poisonous religion.”
The Ahmadiyya movement has 129 centres across the UK including the Baitul Futh Mosque in south London, the biggest in Western Europe.
The movement was founded in India in 1889 with a strong emphasis of peace over violence and tolerance over extremism.
The President of the UK Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Rafiq Hayat said: “The 30,000 plus people from over 90 countries gathering at the convention come in the spirit of fraternity – and to give thanks for the security and freedom they have found in Britain.
“Many have fled persecution in other countries and together, they will re-affirm their pledge to follow the true teachings of Islam – that are teachings of peace – and to counter all forms of extremism and intolerance.
“We have much to be grateful for in Britain which has allowed our community to prosper and contribute to British life for more than 100 years. We count ourselves proud to call ourselves British Ahmadi Muslims.”
The official motto of the movement is”Love for all, hatred for none”.
Asad Shah, a Glasgow shopkeeper and well-known proponent of Ahmadiyya beliefs ,was murdered on March 24 by a man who alleged Mr Shah had “disrespected” Islam.
Mr Shah was killed hours after posting on his Facebook page: “Good Friday and a very happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nationx.”
