In order to remove the misconceptions that exist between various religions and individuals and in order to promote peaceful coexistence, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian proposed the regular initiation of inter-religious conferences. Accordingly, on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations he wrote:
“It will be necessary that every participant present his faith’s excellences and not malign others.”1
The Promised Messiah(as) said that people are often misled by religious leaders and the Christian clergy. He also writes:
“If they had good intentions, they would not have raised such objections on the Quran as can also be raised against the Torah of Moses. If they had fear of God, they would not have relied upon such books, which, in the view of Muslims, are unauthentic and devoid of definitive truths. Therefore, justice dictates that even if the whole of Europe were to be considered angelic, the priests would be an exception. The reason that the Christians of Europe look at Islam with hatred and dislike is that these same priests have been giving the lessons of hate by presenting unauthentic incidents. I do accept that the behaviour of some ignorant Muslims is not worthy and they have habits borne of ignorance, as some ferocious Muslims apply the term jihad to cruel bloodshed and they do not know that public’s rising against a just ruler is mutiny and not jihad. Severance of covenant, committing evil instead of good, and murder of the innocent, whoever commits such acts should be called an offender and not a hero.
“These thoughts have been produced through the perverted interpretations of the priests. There is no sign of them in the Book of God. The Word of God declares the punishment of sword for the ones who raise the sword and does not teach mutiny against the ones who establish peace, benefit the public, and give every people the rights of freedom. It is dishonesty to malign the Word of God. Therefore, it is highly desirable that for the good of humanity a conference of religions be held by the Empress of India to disseminate the reality of religions.”2
1 Tohfa‐e‐Qaisariyyah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 12, p. 279
2 Tohfa‐e‐Qaisariyyah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 12, pp. 280‐281