Shaykh Ahmad Dabbagh, a cleric based in the UK and the founder of the World Peace Movement, has asserted that dialogue offers practical solutions to global conflicts. He encouraged people in Nigeria and worldwide to pursue peace through inner cleansing and exemplary character, following prophetic teachings.
During a public lecture in Kano as part of the movement's 12-day peace mission in Nigeria, the cleric highlighted on Saturday that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) presented an enduring model for resolving disagreements and fostering harmony through dialogue.
"The Prophet defined a Muslim as one from whose hands and tongue others are safe. Those who claim Islam while spreading violence stand in direct contradiction to this teaching," he stated, implicitly referencing insurgent groups like Boko Haram.
He emphasized that all conflicts, whether local issues like banditry or larger international wars, ultimately conclude at the negotiation table, questioning the delay in pursuing peace from the outset.
"After years of bloodshed and destruction, people still come back to peace. Why not choose peace first, before causing harm?" he inquired.
Dabbagh elaborated on the World Peace Movement's objective to extend its peace message, grounded in Islam, to all 195 countries globally.
He noted that Kano was deliberately chosen as a location due to its significant Islamic heritage and its historical prominence in scholarship and leadership.
The scholar cautioned against the belief that material wealth alone can ensure peace, pointing to the increasing rates of loneliness and mental health challenges in affluent nations despite their prosperity.
"In countries like the UK and Japan, ministries of loneliness have been created because people have shelter, food, and technology, yet they lack inner peace. Africa must preserve its communal and spiritual harmony," he advised.
He further explained that the World Peace Movement aims to "carpet the world not with bombs, but with the message of peace."
According to him, the initiative has already established a presence in over 70 countries, with Nigeria being a key component of the broader strategy to disseminate peace and prophetic conduct across continents.
He mentioned that the Kano event featured lectures, mentorship sessions, and community outreach, with a specific focus on guiding religious leaders and young people toward peaceful teachings.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Professor Abdulrashid Garba, commented that the lecture was particularly relevant given the current multifaceted security challenges facing Nigeria.
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