Faith Communities

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Excerpts

Tuesday 29th May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

My Lords, I join others in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Sacks, for initiating this debate and for his personal contributions to faith communities across Britain. It was Kipling who wrote:

“If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With 60 seconds’ worth of distance run”.

Here is my effort. I can think of no better words than those in the prayer of my own Muslim community to Her Majesty, which is:

“In the name of God, the gracious, the merciful: O Powerful and Noble God. Through your Grace and Blessings keep our honoured Queen forever happy in the same way that we are living happily under her benevolence and kindness; and be kind and loving towards her in the same way that we are living in peace and prosperity under her generous and righteous rule”.

Adorned on many a London bus is a message not just of a Muslim community to the Queen but a message of all communities to the Queen: “Congratulations Your Majesty!” and thank you.