The Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Barrister Alatoye Azeez Folorunso, has called for a more peaceful world through the promotion of love and the upholding of human dignity.
He made this appeal in his Eid-ul-Fitr message marking the end of this year’s Ramadan fast. The message, titled “Seek the Love of Allah to Achieve the Purpose of Your Creation,” emphasised the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and their relevance to global peace.
Barrister Alatoye observed that the just-concluded Ramadan was a challenging period not only for the Muslim Ummah but for humanity as a whole. He noted that global tensions, particularly the upheavals in the Middle East arising from the joint military actions of Israel and the United States against Iran, had far-reaching consequences, pushing the world towards the brink of a potential global conflict.
He expressed regret that the current precarious global situation could have been avoided if humanity had lived in accordance with the commandments of its Creator. According to him, this remains the only true way to express love for Allah and to attain His love.
“It is ironic,” he said, “that we use man-made products strictly for their intended purposes, yet fail to live according to the purpose for which we were created.”
Quoting from the Holy Qur’an (Chapter 3, Verse 32 and Chapter 51, Verse 56), he cited:
“Say, ‘If you love Allah, follow me: then will Allah love you and forgive you your faults. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.’”
“And I have not created the jinn and mankind except that they may worship Me.”
He explained that these verses clearly define the purpose of human creation. Just as a product used incorrectly fails to function properly and may even cause harm, humanity’s deviation from its divine purpose has contributed to the absence of peace in the world.
Barrister Alatoye also referenced the exemplary lives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him). He noted that true love for Allah is demonstrated through sincere worship and by fulfilling the rights of fellow human beings.
“Rather than serving God and respecting the rights of others, the world has increasingly chosen self-interest and the violation of others’ rights. This,” he stated, “is the root cause of global instability.”
He further highlighted a recent Friday sermon by the Supreme Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper), who warned that many people have shifted their allegiance away from God to individuals, nations, or institutions, mistakenly believing that such reliance will guarantee peace and security. Unfortunately, the opposite has been the case.
The Islamic leader described Ramadan as a powerful reminder for humanity to return to its true purpose and to seek the love of Allah. He noted that during the holy month, Muslims increased their devotion, showed greater compassion, avoided conflict, and lived with humility.
“It was a time when Muslims shared what they had with others purely for the love of Allah,” he said.
Barrister Alatoye urged Muslims to sustain the spiritual gains of Ramadan, stressing that acts of devotion, kindness, and self-restraint should continue beyond the holy month until they are fortunate to witness another Ramadan.
A statement issued by Qasim Akinreti, Media Lead of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, reiterated the community’s commitment to promoting peace, unity, and spiritual development in society.