Ahmadi Muslims in India tagged with Britain’s Biggest Annual Islamic Gathering

Ahmadi Muslims in India tagged with Britain’s Biggest Annual Islamic Gathering

For more than 127 years the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been leading a peaceful revival of Islam. From the time it was founded in India in 1889 it has enjoyed an unrivalled record for peace and for its efforts to build cohesive societies.

Ahmadis believe that Islam, which was established over 1,400 years ago by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), is a universal religion of peace, with a simple but perfect message for mankind to develop and maintain a living relationship with a living God and to live in perfect harmony with mankind. This message was revived by the founder of the Ahmadiyya community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) who claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi for this age fulfilling all the religious prophecies.

The Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is an extraordinary spiritual event initiated by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1891.

Qadian, a small village in Punjab, India, is the birthplace of the community and where the convention first was held. Still held in Qadian, the convention has gone through a rich development over the century and now attracts guests from around the world.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Peace be upon him) intended to enable Ahmadi Muslims in specific and foreign masses in general to use the Jalsa Salana as an event for spiritual and moral advancement, beneficial social interaction and most importantly to increase personal relationship with God.

Now when the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is established in more than 207 countries of the world, in more than 70 countries the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community conduct their national Jalsa salana every year.

As Khilafat, the highest administrative, spiritual and moral authority of the Community established its HQ in London, UK, the Jalsa Salana became a foremost attraction for Ahmadi Muslims from around the world.

Under Khilafat, the Jalsa’s Page 2 of 2 influence over the community grew and became a model for various Jalsas being held in other parts of the world. In India the Jalsa is normally conducted in the month of December every year. In the UK now the 50th Jalsa Salana is held in which more than 30 thousand delegates are participating from more than 90 countries.

The 3 day Jalsa takes place at Hadeeqatul Mahdi in Hampshire, UK from Friday 12th August to Sunday 14th August 2016.

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad inaugrated the Jalsa with his Friday sermon and prayer later followed with a solemn flag hoisting. The Khalifa addressed the gathering with his faith inspiring speech. Thereafter, His Holiness will deliver 4 further speeches during the course of the weekend.

The Ahmadiyya Khalifa is the world’s leading Muslim figure promoting peace and inter-religious harmony. Through his sermons, lectures, books, and personal meetings, His Holiness has continuously advocated the worship of God Almighty and serving humanity. He also continuously advocates for the establishment of universal human rights, a just society and separation of religion and state.

The entire Jalsa event, just like many other Conventions of the community is streamed live on the community’s private broadcasting network Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International and similarly available on the internet with translation in over 10 world languages.

In India, wide arrangements are made in most parts of the country to follow the Jalsa and the speeches of their beloved Khalifa. Hundreds of Ahmadis gathered in the Baitul Hadi Mosque of the Ahmadiyya Community in Tuglakabad, New Delhi to watch the inaugural address of the Khalifatul Masih.

A community member from New Delhi said that, on Sunday, while thousands of Ahmadi Muslims will take a pledge of allegiance, known as the Bai’at, at the hand of the Khalifa (Caliph) following this all the live viewers of this Jalsa through their television channel shall also take their pledge of allegiance to their beloved Khalifa, reaffirming their loyalty to their country of residence.

This Jalsa is a means to spread the motto of the community “Love for all, Hatred for none.