Sufi Thought resonates at London’s ‘Voices of Faith’ Dialogue; Haji Syed Salman Chishty Delivers a Spiritual Message.

Jr. Seraj Ahmad Quraishi

Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

At the international ‘Voices of Faith Dialogue’ program held at London’s prestigious Barbican Centre, Haji Syed Salman Chishty—the *Gaddinashin* (hereditary custodian) of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Chairman of the Chishty Foundation—addressed a global audience on the subject of Sufism and the spiritual journey of self-realization.

Organized in collaboration with Teamwork Arts and the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, the event brought together distinguished thinkers, spiritual leaders, scholars, and cultural figures from across the globe. The program was conducted in a dialogue format, moderated by the renowned broadcaster Georgina Godwin.

In his address on this occasion, Haji Syed Salman Chishty stated that the core message of Sufism is the journey of the soul towards the Divine. He remarked that once an individual recognizes the truth within themselves, the boundaries of religion, caste, and nationality dissolve naturally, and humanity, service, and compassion emerge as the supreme religion.

He emphasized that in the present era—when the world is grappling with various forms of tension and social division—spiritual dialogue and interfaith cooperation are absolutely essential for strengthening peace, harmony, and moral responsibility.

Citing the teachings of the great Sufi saint of Ajmer Sharif, Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (known as *Gharib Nawaz*), Haji Syed Salman Chishty noted that his universal message continues to inspire the entire world to this day: "Love all, hate none."

Several other international speakers also shared their insights at the event, including Sir Trevor Phillips, Marcus du Sautoy, Justice Rohinton F. Nariman, Rabbi Jonathan Romain, Rabbi Deborah Kahn-Harris, and Lama Khyimsa Rinpoche.

Meanwhile, in Gorakhpur, Ikrar Ahmed—President of the Dargah Mubarak Khan Shaheed—hailed the event as a significant endeavor that successfully conveyed the message of the Sufi tradition and humanity to a global platform. He affirmed that the Chishti tradition of Ajmer Sharif has consistently served as a guiding light, pointing the way toward love, brotherhood, and service to humanity. Ikrar Ahmed stated that in today's times, the world needs the teachings of Sufi saints more than ever before, as this tradition guides humanity to rise above mutual hatred and embrace the path of peace, tolerance, and unity.

At the conclusion of the program, representatives from various religions and cultures called for the promotion of mutual understanding, cooperation, and compassion for a better future for humanity.