Recent events around Syria have prompted many political and religious figures to make some bold statements and to undertake some high-risk initiatives.

Whilst Pope Francis wrote to President Putin opposing US and French military plans against Syria, the Head of the World Wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, went further and warned that an escalation of the conflict in Syria could lead to World War III.

In a live televised address from Western Europe's biggest mosque-Baitul Futuh- in Morden, Surrey, the Caliph said: "The current global situation is fast moving towards devastation. In particular the Syrian crisis could plunge the Arab world in great devastation and if foreign powers join in, the terrible damage ensuing will not be limited to some countries in Asia, but will be worldwide. Neither the countries in Asia, nor the world powers appreciate that this conflict could be a pre-cursor to a World War.

The full sermon can be read here.

Since the start of the Syrian Crisis over 2 years ago the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has addressed world leaders through letters and key note addresses- delivered at Capitol Hill, the European Parliament and the House of Commons- about the dangers that can result from an escalating war in Syria.

For the moment the drums of war have been silenced. The recent US-Russia deal secured by John Kerry the US Secretary of State and his Russian counterpart Sergi Lavrov on Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons is a small "victory" that averts war. In averting a US military strike on Syria the world owes a degree of gratitude to the British public who showed their opposition to military action on Syria, and members of our parliament- who rejected the Prime Ministers call to go to war with Syria. The debate on Syria and the vote in the House of Commons on the 29th August 2013 showed the British Parliamentary system at its best- and it also showed the impact this country can have on global events when it takes a principled stance. It was only after the vote in the House of Commons that the US and French Presidents had second thoughts about military action on Syria.

The influences of mainstream media and the powerful lobbying groups that drive our political leadership are difficult to understand. Only a few weeks ago all the mainstream media networks and political leaders in the West were convinced that war with Syria was around the corner. The US had threatened to attack Syria which it blamed for a chemical attack in August. President Bashar al-Assad's government had rejected the allegations and had accused the rebels of carrying out the attack-a position fully supported by Russia and several other countries. As military intervention drew closer and tempers flared, President Putin called John Kerry, the US Secretary of State a liar, and the following day President Obama's ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, accused Russia of holding the Security Council "hostage" on Syria.

Throughout this tense period the vast majority of the public in the Western world (and their political representatives) remained resolutely against Western military force against Syria (unless it was sanctioned by the UN). This proved to be very distressing for the US and French Presidents, who were isolated at home and at the G20 meeting in Russia. Meanwhile US and French war ships were taking positions to strike Syria with their cruise missiles. Thankfully disaster was averted at the very last minute when President Putin presented a way out and the President of the US called off military action against Syria.

Despite these developments we should not sit on our laurels-and assume that peace will take root in the Middle East, or that regional players will accept the US-Russian plans. The opposition in Syria have already rejected the US-Russian plans, and the Saudi, Qatari and Turk political leadership-who back the rebels- are not too pleased, and neither are the Israeli’s. Peace plans and agreements in the Middle East have been as unreliable as the moving sands-and it is crucial that we look to long-term solutions based on justice and upholding the rule of international law.

The Syrian Crisis-has shown the failings and fault lines across several important groups and key players in the Middle East and at the United Nations. First and foremost this conflict has shown the deep mistrust and divisions that exist within the Muslim world. The conflict has also shown the failings and divisions within the Christian world. In Syria’s catastrophic struggle, fuelled by vested interests, you have a predominantly Muslim country being dismantled and degraded by other Muslim countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey)-through Al-Qaeda linked Jihadist rebels; you have innocent Syrian Christians being killed by Jihadi fighters, who in turn are supplied by Western Christian nations and their affiliates in the Middle East; you have Sunni’s fighting Shia’s; you have secular Muslims fighting militant/Jihadist Muslims; you have a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran-and ultimately you have a proxy war between the US and Russia. It is truly a nightmare scenario for the poor Syrians. If we want a lasting peace in Syria and avoid a regional war, which may escalate into a thermonuclear war between the US and Russia-we need to be honest and principled. This would mean the Muslim world taking a lead and getting its house in order.

It is tragic that many of the Muslim countries in this day and age have forgotten the basic principles of Islam and its teachings in relation to justice and establishing peace. According to Islam God has referred to the Muslims as “the best of people”, and the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in his recent address asked: “Which good work are the Muslims doing? There is no honour in them anymore; they seek help from the others to kill their own. God states regarding such a situation: ‘And if two parties of believers fight against each other, make peace between them; then if after that one of them transgresses against the other, fight the party that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them with equity, and act justly. Verily, Allah loves the just.’ (49:10) The standard of justice has been set so high in this teaching that God states in the Qur’an: ‘… and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice…’ (5:9) Whilst noting the influence of extremist organisations and certain Muslim and non-Muslim governments on the masses within the Muslim world the Caliph prayed and noted: “May God give sense to Muslim rulers and public that they may understand the teaching of: ‘…And help one another in righteousness and piety…’(5:3) May they spread love, may they win over hearts. Governance cannot be done without winning hearts and without giving public their rights. Every Muslim leader needs to understand the essence of this. They should reflect over their own history that how Christian subjects used to pray for Muslim rule to return, replacing Christian rule and here we have a situation where Muslim is killing Muslim rather than be a personification of ‘…tender among themselves…’ (48:30). Meanwhile Muslims are fleeing to Christian countries to seek refuge in peace, to find justice to and live with freedom”.

Although it is easy to blame the Muslim world for many of the ill’s in the Middle East and elsewhere, there are some very serious questions that need to be addressed by the Christian or Western world. For example, if al-Qaeda linked Jihadist groups have been presented to all of us as the enemies of the West for the last ten to fifteen years why are the US and Europe supporting them in Syria? If extremist groups backed by some powerful Muslim governments have been causing havoc against Christians and other minorities in some countries why are the US and Europe aligning themselves with these extremists? Why do Russia and much of the Christian Church see things so differently in the Middle East (e.g Syria/Iraq) compared to the political administrations of the US and Europe? Why is it ok for powerful countries like the US and its allies to veto UN motions (e.g. on Israel) –and no one blinks an eyelid- and yet when the Russians and Chinese do so (e.g. on.Syria) they are demonised? And there are so many more questions which are never asked in the mainstream media.

The reality is that we live in a deeply polarised world where the over-arching principle of “might is right” governs all our affairs. The neo-Darwinian concept of “survival of the fittest” or survival of the powerful has been used by some nations to their maximal advantage. Although the modern Muslim world has failed to learn any valuable lessons, there are other emerging nations that are now coming onto the scene. The Russian-Chinese alliance is proving to be a formidable challenge for the US and its allies and so countries like Syria, and Iran, cannot be dismantled at will- as Iraq was. All sorts of new alliances are being formed in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The conflict in Syria is now reaching an end-game. Either the global community under the umbrella of the UN will work together to bring peace and stability to Syria, or under pressure from regional powers and lobbying groups the US will be forced to push Syria and Russia into a corner and military conflict. The financial and political muscle to make war or peace in the Middle East remains with three important regional players Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel. If the Syrian conflict draws in the US at some stage, it is likely that the US will be able to over-power the Syrians and Russians-but with a substantial nuclear option, it is unlikely that President Putin will admit defeat that easily. Let us hope and pray that justice and good sense will prevail and the great calamity that has gripped Syria can be brought to an end-and peace and prosperity can be restored. The alternative is too frightening to think about.

Dr Mohammed Iqbal