The Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) USA, 2009

Objectives, Purposes & Blessings of the Jalsa Salana In the Words of the Promised Messiah (Peace be on him)


Purpose of Jalsa Salana


“ 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 Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 340).


Not an Ordinary Convention


“ It is essential for all those who can afford to undertake the journey, that they must come to attend this Convention which embodies many blessed objectives. They should disregard minor inconveniences in the cause of Allah and His prophet (peace be upon him.). Allah yields reward to the sincere persons at every step of their way, and no labour and hardship, undertaken in His way, ever goes to waste. I re-emphasize that you must not rank this convention in the same league as other, ordinary, human assemblies. This is a phenomenon that is based purely on the Divine Help, for propagation of Islam."
(Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 341)


Prayer


“ 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!!”


(Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 342)

The Outsider Looking In: My experience at the Ahmaddiyyah Jalsa Salana 2008

2008 June 23

by Robert Salaam

I openly wonder if I can still consider myself an outsider at this point? I consider myself a friend of the Ahmaddiyah community first and foremost. I have been friends with members of this community for a little over a year now and as such I have been to a Qur’an conference, an Itjema, and as of this weekend two Jalsa Salana’s, even tonight Insha’Allah I will attend a private dinner with Mirza Masroor Ahmad the current leader and 5th Khalifah of the movement.

I provide this disclaimer upfront to let it be known that my writing will be biased, but biased on the truth of what one can perceive and experience from their own eyes and ears versus that which is readily available as another’s personal opinion which often lacks personal experience.

This past weekend I had the esteemed honor to attend the 60th Jalsa Salana which celebrated the 100th year of Ahmaddiyah Khalifa, highlighted by the first ever visit to America of the current Khalifa.

I was treated and welcomed with dignity and respect as a fellow Muslim among many others who were non-Ahmadiyyah. This weekend was highlighted as a “Muslim Peace Conference” and although it wasn’t without it’s share of controversy, the group’s motto “Love for All, Hatred for None” was exemplified in the presentations, speeches, and in the actions of their members.

One can struggle for weeks to find the correct words to describe the immense joy I felt as I was escorted around the cavernous Pennsylvania conference center. Always being greeted courteously and with a smile reminded me of what I imagined Muslims to be like when I first converted. Without going into every detail let me at least say that I was quite impressed. For all that is said about this group, many have even commented on this blog, I can find no evidence that these brothers and sisters act contrary to the teachings we hold sacred.

It is one thing to have a motto, it is another thing to say that Islam means peace, but it is another thing to fully act on and embrace those very words and ideas and make them manifest for the world to see. I have to admit I wasn’t too concerned with how non-Ahmadiyyah Muslims were treated, I was really observing and questioning the non-Muslims in attendance. There were Mormons, Hindu’s, Shikhs, Christians, all in attendance along with us Sunni, Shia, Sufi, etc. Muslims. To see the expressions on their faces and after speaking with them and listening to how impressed they were, gave me a great sense of pride.

Many of them stated that they had no idea this is what Islam represents, I was even questioned why is it that the non-Muslim world isn’t privy to the peace in Islam, and many more questions like that.

You see brothers and sisters, these non-Muslims were not worried about doctrinal or theological points. These are the things that we so foolishly fight about. The non-Muslim can’t tell a Sunni from a Shia anymore than an Ahmaddiyyah from a non-Ahamadi. What they only saw was that almost 10 thousand people saying they believe in Islam, were being peaceful and teaching peace.

There are a great many lessons we non-Ahmadi’s can learn from this. Where are our peace conferences? Why aren’t we talking about things like freedom of religion, and teaching the highest virtues of Islam which compel us to safeguard all of humanity?

Now I know some have their stones ready, but I humbly submit to you, that is it not better to resolve our differences in peace as we are commanded? In the press conference I made sure to address a few things with their leaders:

I asked what is the Ahmadiyya opinion of non-Ahmadi’s? Are we considered Muslims in their eyes?

The response was absolutely. I was reminded of the census in Mecca when the Prophet (saw) was asked how to record who is Muslim and he responded that those who claim to be Muslim are Muslim.

I asked why is their no “intra-faith” between Ahmadi and non-Ahmaddiyah Muslims and was told that everytime they do an interfaith event no one shows up, wants to show up, and never invites them either, but the doors are always open.

There where many questions such as the idea of prophethood and theological points, but my stress in not on our differences in opinion on these matters, but our behavior towards one another.

Over the course of almost three days, all I saw and witnessed was hospitality, generosity, and messages of peace. How can we deny that?

No non-Ahmaddiyyah in attendance and there were hundreds of us from all walks of life can say that we witnessed anything non-Islamic. Unless of course being kind, courteous, and peaceful all the while proclaiming love for Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Allah (swt) are now non-Islamic behaviors.

One of the speakers on Saturday encouraged us to study the fruit and study the tree and come to our own conclusions.

I have to say and I must report that I witnessed 9,500 good fruit sprung forth from the tree of Islam.

I don’t claim to be a scholar, I don’t claim to know all the nuances of the varied Muslim understandings of things. However, I do know that when one bears witness to Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw), enjoins prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage, defends Islam against the false accusations of non-Muslims, and treats others with peace while loudly proclaiming it, I have to say it sure seems Muslim to me.

Sunday’s address by Mirza Masroor Ahmad included the commands to “to rely on God, do good works, seek educational progress”, “to march forward toward betterment”, and he reminded his followers and guests that Islam is in fact the religion of Peace.

It all seems at the very least, like the things Muslims should be enjoining others in right? Not once did I hear any rebuke or commentary against non-Ahmaddiyyah Muslims. Not once was the West, Jews, etc. were condemned. What I heard and witnessed were the words of a meek and humble leader with thousands in attendance preach a message of peace.

So maybe I am wrong. Maybe my lying eyes and ears deceive me. Maybe I can’t tell between who is Muslim and who is not, even though I thought that was Allah’s (swt) job. I guess I just don’t know, or least some of you will claim that.

But then again, I don’t have a problem with Sufi’s, Shia, or others who claim part of the fold. I just respectfully disagree on some points and understandings. What I do know is they are more of a brother and sister to me than those whom we often let speak at our functions and in our Mosques who don’t believe that Muhammad (saw) is the Messenger of Allah (swt).

Maybe it’s just me.

In the end, it was a great conference. I truly loved the idea that those who had never experienced Muslims or Islam outside of the mainstream media got to see almost 10K claimants of Islam boldly and loudly declare that Islam is a religion of Peace and Muhammad (saw) is the messenger of Islam.

I pray that one day we who are non-Ahmadi will be willing to focus on what unites and not that which divides. I pray that we all become ambassadors of peace and wage a war of Jihad of the pen. I pray that we remember that their is no compulsion in religion and that Allah (swt) loves not the oppressor. I pray that we have patience in all that we do.

Let us remember that a Muslim is one in whom all his neighbors regardless of belief feel safe and secure. If we are to fully realize that ideal, we must reconsider our behavior, especially against a group that does exactly what we claim to believe.

Like I said, maybe it’s just me.