The 50th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom concluded on Sunday 14 August with a powerful and faith-inspiring address by the World Head the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
During his concluding address, His Holiness called on Islam’s critics to judge the religion on its true teachings, rather than focusing upon the hateful acts of a tiny minority of extremists.
More than 38,000 people attended the Jalsa Salana, which took place at Hadeeqatul Mahdi in Alton, Hampshire.
Apart from the thousands of Ahmadi Muslims who participated, many non-Ahmadi and non-Muslim guests also attended. The entire event was also broadcast live on MTA International and streamed online.
One of the highlights of the three-day Jalsa Salana was the pledge of allegiance, known as Bai’at that took place on Sunday afternoon, where the participants pledged allegiance to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad as the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph) of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him).
The participants formed a human chain leading to the Khalifa as they repeated the words of the pledge in unison.
Prior to the ceremony, His Holiness announced that more than 584,000 people had joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community during the past year from all around the world. He also announced that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was now established in 209 countries.
In his concluding address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that critics of Islam continued to raise unjust and entirely unfounded allegations against the religion.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Today’s disorder and terrorism is a result of the fact that people are distorting the teachings of religion and most certainly their hate filled and evil actions do not have any link to the true teachings of Islam.”
His Holiness said Islam laid the foundation for peace by promoting true equality between peoples and nations. Islam taught that no nation or people held superiority over others.
His Holiness said that Islam sought to create peace at every level of society and that the basis for peace in society lay in a person’s home. He said that Islam laid particular emphasis on the rights of parents.
In contrast, His Holiness said that those people in developed nations who routinely branded Islam as a cruel religion were themselves forgetting their fundamental obligation to their parents.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “In the developed world many people claim that they do not even have the time to meet their parents regularly, let alone to serve them and care for them in old age. The more advanced they consider themselves the further away they move from fulfilling their basic responsibilities.”
His Holiness emphasised that true justice could not be established without creating a link with God Almighty.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Without recognising and fulfilling the rights of the worship of God Almighty, justice cannot be established and one cannot pay attention towards kindness and humanity.
“Those who call themselves Muslims but continue to act against the teachings of Islam do so because they have not truly recognised God, nor are they fulfilling their obligations towards Him.”
His Holiness also referred to the responsibilities of parents to their children and referred to the verse of the Holy Quran which states “and that you kill not your children for fear of poverty”.
His Holiness said that this verse also referred to those who failed to cater for the moral wellbeing of their children.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “A lack of care and moral training from parents is one reason that children can become vulnerable to extremism and towards committing atrocities in the name of Islam.
“Such parents are ignoring their duties towards their children in the vain pursuit of wealth and so their children are left bereft of even a basic knowledge of their religion. This in essence is a means of destroying their children.”
His Holiness went on to quote chapter 49 verse 12 of the Holy Quran, which prohibits Muslims from mocking the sentiments of others.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “In this day and age religion is also being routinely mocked and derided and Islam is especially being targeted in this regard. When people make derogatory remarks or produce offensive caricatures to mock Islam or the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) it grieves Muslims worldwide.
“Of course any violent reaction is completely against the teachings of Islam but where is the wisdom in producing such materials that can threaten the peace of society?”
His Holiness continued: “Does the fact that certain groups or individuals are acting contrary to the teachings of Islam give non-Muslims the licence to provoke and hurt the sentiments of all Muslims including us Ahmadi Muslims, who are at the forefront of promoting the peaceful teachings of Islam?”
Explaining Islam’s teachings in relation to mutual respect and interfaith dialogue, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Islam teaches that disorder should be curbed, rather than encouraged or inflamed.”
Speaking of the deteriorating state of the peace of the world, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “The conflicts that existed on a small scale are now developing into international conflicts.
“In the past, when I said that the injustice in the world was pushing us towards nuclear war many government officials, analysts and politicians said that this is a far-fetched claim and overly pessimistic. However now they are themselves saying that a nuclear is looming and anything is possible.”
His Holiness said that both Muslim nations and the major powers had played a role in undermining the world’s peace.
He quoted media reports asking why certain countries were selling weapons to nations that were engaged in wars where innocent people were being killed.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “On the one hand, Muslim nations have failed to act with justice, whilst on the other hand certain developed countries have prioritised the arms trade over and beyond establishing peace.
“If only they had acted with justice and integrity the dangerous situation that the world faces today would have been avoided. Sadly, vested interests have blinded both sides.”
His Holiness concluded by saying: “It is the task and responsibility of Ahmadi Muslims to inform the world of the benefits of the true peaceful teachings of Islam. May Allah enable us to do so and grant sense to the world.”
The Jalsa Salana concluded with a silent prayer led by His Holiness.
