Voice of British Muslim Women

Ayesha Naseem Mirza, Walsall

As summer approaches, the countdown for Jalsa Salana [Annual Convention] of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK begins to surround everyone, from regular attendees, volunteers, to those watching from home, with the feeling of immense excitement and enthusiasm. It is one of the most important events in the Community calendar and with the UK as the central headquarters of the worldwide Community, the UK Jalsa has an international scale and significance; even in attendance, approximately 40,000 people expected to attend across the three days.

But when we look at the history of Jalsa Salana, it is truly awe-inspiring. The first ever Jalsa Salana wasn’t in a man-made tent city across the enormous fields of Hampshire, south England. Rather, it took place on 27th December 1891 in Qadian, India. Travelling from afar to the small Punjab town, this convention had only seventy-five attendees, wcomprised of companions of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him). On this occasion, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) announced that a Jalsa Salana [Annual Convention] would be held every year in the month of December (as in winter months, farmers were not busy harvesting crops). [1]

In the words of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him):

“The primary purpose of this Convention is to enable every sincere individual to personally experience religious benefits; they may enhance their knowledge and – due to their being blessed and enabled by Allah, The Exalted – their perception [of Allah] may progress. Among its secondary benefits is that this congregational meeting together will promote mutual introduction among all brothers, and it will strengthen the fraternal ties within this Community…” [2]

Every Jalsa I have attended has come with extraordinary opportunities to learn and create beautiful memories. As in the blessed words of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him), attendees of Jalsa can truly feel and experience the religious benefits and the opportunity to get closer to Allah the Almighty. Just seeing the enormous tent city, set up in a span of days and disassembled immediately afterwards, is itself an unprecedented sign of Allah the Almighty’s Grace and Help. Every year I come to Jalsa, I realise this, and every year it moves me.

The dedication and determination with which duty holders (all volunteers) perform their duties – be it security, car park, catering, hygiene, first aid, charity fundraising, exhibitions, buggy facilities and so much more – the complete organisation of making Jalsa Salana happen is also an extraordinary sign of Allah the Almighty. For it is with His Grace and Help that we are all enabled to carry out our assigned work.

The first Jalsa had only seventy-five attendees but over a century later, it is held across the world with thousands of attendees and volunteers each year. Every Jalsa since 1891, regardless of where it took place, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) made a heartfelt prayer for its attendees.

“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!!”  

References

[1] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), The Heavenly Decree, Islam International Publications Ltd., 2006, pp. 74 -75. Accessed from https://muslimsunrise.com/2024/12/08/history-of-jalsa-salana/

[2] Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 340. Accessed from: http://www.ahmadipedia.org on 29th June 2025

[3] Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 342. Accessed from: http://www.ahmadipedia.org on 29th June 2025