Voice of British Muslim Women

Ayesha Naseem, Blackburn

The objective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in line with the core teaching of Islam, is to instil the belief of Oneness of God, to bring mankind closer to Allah the Almighty, to fulfil the rights owed to God and to His Creation and to let the love of Allah and His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) dominate one’s heart.  

To achieve this objective, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) writes that it is important that members of the Community be in his company and have the opportunity to occasionally meet him. One may ask how can every member of the Community, from his time and after, be in the Promised Messiah’s (peace be on him) company? On this, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) states:  

“And since it is difficult for everyone to spend time in my company… it seems appropriate to appoint three days a year for this Jalsa [Convention], in which all sincere individuals – if God wills and if health, resources and lack of any major hindrance permits – can visit on the allocated dates.” [2] 

Alongside experiencing religious and spiritual benefits of Jalsa Salana, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) explains that being in congregation with other Ahmadi Muslims will strengthen ties and foster mutual love and affection within the Community.  

It’s so thought-provoking that the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) finds sincerity to be a virtue that the Jalsa promotes. People travel long distances, spend huge sums of money – something that many save up for all year around – just so they can be symbolically in the company of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and be from those he prayed for. 

Of course, we cannot meet the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) now but we can meet his Caliph. For Ahmadis around the world, being in the presence of and to meet the Khalifa of the time is their lifelong desire, something they actively plan for. Attending the Jalsa Salana which His Holiness graces, gives them that opportunity. This show of sincerity and obedience has no other example in the world, and it comes without wanting any worldly reward. The only desire is to earn the reward and pleasure of Allah the Almighty alone. 

This sincerity is also not unrequited, it is in fact, mutual. The current and fifth Caliph of the Promised Messiah, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper), reciprocates that sincerity, just like Caliphs before him did. Once someone asked how His Holiness feels when Ahmadis express their love, and in response, His Holiness said:  

“When you become happy, I am also happy, and then I also wave my hand back. What you feel is also what I feel. [In such gatherings, I see] that good people are seated [before me], sincere Ahmadis are seated, loving Ahmadis are seated, loyal Ahmadis of Khilafat are seated. This is what I feel.” [3]  

The first ever Jalsa Salana was held in 1891 with only 75 attendees, in the remote village of Qadian in India. And as the Community grew and continues to grow worldwide, so did the number of attendees to this Convention.  

Be it pouring rain, shining blue sky with bright sun, or grey clouds with a cool breeze, each year the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, around the world, organises its annual conventions and every year, thousands travel across cities and borders to attend them.  

Fortunate and blessed are those who are able to attend because the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) has prayed for them in the following words: 

“I conclude with the prayer that everyone who travels for [attending] this Convention that is for the sake of Allah: May Allah, the Exalted, be with him, reward him in abundant measure, have mercy on him, ease up for him his circumstances of hardship and anxiety and eliminate his anguish and grief. May He grant him freedom from every single hardship and lay open for him the ways of [achieving] his cherished goals, and raise him up, on the day of Judgment, among those of His servants who are the recipients of His blessings and Mercy. May He be their Guardian in their absence until after their journey comes to an end. O Allah! O Sublime One and Bestower of bounties, the Ever Merciful and One Who Resolves all problems, do grant all these prayers, and grant us Victory over our opponents with scintillating signs, because You alone have all the prowess and power. Aameen! Aameen!!” [6] 

References:  

[1] https://www.alislam.org/articles/foundations-of-jalsa-salana-by-the-promised-messiah/  

[2] Ibid. 

[3] https://www.alhakam.org/lajna-uk-waqifaat-meet-huzoor/  

[6] https://www.alislam.org/articles/objectives-purpose-blessings-of-jalsa-salana/