Jilani said the Prophet had espoused jihaad as a way of removing bad elements in a society for the good of the entire community, much in the way that a surgeon would lift a scalpel to a patient: 'The doctor is not the enemy of the patient, but is removing something that is causing harm to the patient so that he may live a better life.'

'If (the Prophet) was here today he would never have given an order such as the bombing of the twin towers in the US and other acts which kill innocent people.'

Jilani said the aim of jihaad in Islam was to win over the hearts of all people irrespective of race, creed or colour through peaceful means to instil in them the message of peace that was at the core of Islamic belief.

'This is the spark that the Spiritual Foundation has lit now here as well and God willing, it is something that can engulf the whole world with peace,' Jilani concluded as he explained that the new office would serve the needs of all in distress, irrespective of religious affiliation.