The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, it spans over 209 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its current headquarters are in the United Kingdom.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (pbuh) (1835-1908) of Qadian. Hadrat Ahmad (pbuh) claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus(as) of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (pbuh) . The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that God sent Ahmad(as), like Jesus(as), to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Hadrat Ahmad’s (pbuh) advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival. He divested Islam of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings. He also recognized the noble teachings of the great religious founders and saints, including Zoroaster (pbuh), Abraham (pbuh) , Moses (pbuh), Jesus (pbuh) , Krishna (pbuh) , Buddha (pbuh), Confucius(pbuh) , Lao Tzu and Guru Nanak, and explained how such teachings converged into the one true Islam.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the leading Islamic organization to categorically reject terrorism in any form. Over a century ago, Hadrat Ahmad (pbuh) emphatically declared that an aggressive “jihad by the sword” has no place in Islam. In its place, he taught his followers to wage a bloodless, intellectual “jihad of the pen” to defend Islam. To this end, Hadrat Ahmad (pbuh) penned over 90 books and tens of thousands of letters, delivered hundreds of lectures, and engaged in scores of public debates. His rigorous and rational defenses of Islam unsettled conventional Muslim thinking. As part of its effort to revive Islam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to spread Hadrat Ahmad’s (pbuh) teachings of moderation and restraint in the face of bitter opposition from parts of the Muslim world.
Similarly, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to endorse a separation of mosque and state. Over a century ago, Hadrat Ahmad (pbuh) taught his followers to protect the sanctity of both religion and government by becoming righteous souls as well as loyal citizens. He cautioned against irrational interpretations of Quranic pronouncements and misapplications of Islamic law. He continually voiced his concerns over protecting the rights of God’s creatures. Today, it continues to be an advocate for universal human rights and protections for religious and other minorities. It champions the empowerment and education of women. Its members are among the most law-abiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the foremost Islamic organization with a central spiritual leader, known as the Khalifa of Islam. Over a century ago, Hadrat Ahmad (pbuh) reminded his followers of God’s promise to safeguard the message of Islam through Khilafat (the spiritual institution of successorship to Prophethood). The Community believes that only spiritual successorship of Khilafat can uphold the true values of Islam and unite humanity. Five spiritual leaders have succeeded Hadrat Ahmad (pbuh) since his demise in 1908. It’s fifth and current spiritual head, His Holiness, the Khalifa of Islam Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, resides in the United Kingdom. Under the leadership of Islamic Khilafat, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has now built over 16,000 mosques, over 500 schools, and over 30 hospitals. It has translated the Holy Quran into over 80 languages. It propagates the true teachings of Islam and the message of peace and tolerance through a twenty-four hour satellite television channel (MTA) Muslim Television Ahmadiyya , the Internet (alislam.org) and print (Islam International Publications). The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been at the forefront of worldwide disaster relief through an independent charitable organization, Humanity First.
Jalsa Salana/Annual Convention
Jalsa Salana which is an Urdu / Farsi (Persian) conjugation means Annual Convention or Annual Gathering. This noble institution was inaugurated by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Al Qadiani (pbuh) on December 27, 1891, In Qadian , the Punjab, India. All Ahmadi Muslim, numbering scores of millions, in more than 209 countries worldwide, believe that Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Al Qadiani (pbuh) who founded this Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in1989, is the Promised Messiah – fulfilling the second advent of Jesus Christ of Nazareth who died a natural death and is buried in Kashmir, India
In 1891, seventy-five members attended the First Annual Convention . The last gathering that took place in December 1907 during the lifetime of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (pbuh) , attracted more than two thousand Ahmadis. The last Conference during the Caliphate of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih the First was held in 1913, more than three thousand Ahmadis participated in it. During the Caliphate of the Second Caliph attendance also increased rapidly. The number of participants in 1932 was twenty thousand. The last annual conference held in Qadian just before the immigration to Pakistan was in December 1946. It had an attendance of 39,000 people.
The last annual conference that was held in Rabwah, Pakistan, in 1983 attracted 300,000 participants. In August 2016 more than 39,000 Ahmadis took part in the UK Jalsa Salana. The Community is on the march by the sheer grace of God Almighty. Visualize for a moment the first Jalsa attended by 75 members in Qadian to the UK Jalsa Salana 2016 attended by more than 39,000 faithful members.
Purpose of Jalsa Salana/Annual Convention
The Promised messiah, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Al Qadiani (pbuh), the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and indeed the Jalsa Salana ( Annual Convention) writes in this regards :-
“ 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..” (Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharaat Vol. I, Page 340).
Jalsa Salana/Annual Convention Guyana
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Guyana began in 1959, at Sisters Village East Bank Berbice and since 1960 has been holding its Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) missing some in between due to the circumstance prevailing at the time.
This year, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Guyana of 198 Oronoque & Lance Gibbs Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown; would be holding its –
35th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention)
Date : Saturday December 17th, 2016 at 6 pm to 8 pm and Sunday December 18th, 2016 at 10.30 am to 1.30 pm.
Venue : Cyril Potter College of Education , U.G. Road, Turkeyen, Georgetown
The general Public is invited to this spiritual event. Dinner will be served on Saturday December 17th, and likewise Lunch will be served on Sunday December 18th, on the conclusion of the convention.
Time will be given for the audience to ask questions.
Those interested in attending, kindly contact :-
- Maulana Ahsanullah Mangat – in Georgetown at – 226 7634 or 641 1156
- Maulana Abdur Rahman Khan – in Berbice at – 333 3984 or 627 4036
- Maulana Maqsood Ahmad Mansoor – in Linden at – 444 4990 or 657 7070
