By Abdulquadri Olanrewaju
The Amir (National Head) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alhaji (Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, has announced preparations for the Platinum Jubilee Anniversary of the Ahmadiyya National Conference, popularly known as Jalsa Salana.
This announcement was made during a press conference held at the Ahmadiyya National Headquarters in Ojokoro, Lagos State, on 4th December 2024.
This year’s conference is scheduled to take place from Friday, 20th December, to Sunday, 22nd December 2024, at the Ahmadiyya Conference Ground, Jamia Ahmadiyya, Ilaro-Owode Road, Ogun State. Themed with a Quranic declaration “And We Have Sent Thee (Muhammad) Not But As a Mercy For All People” (Qur’an 21:108), the event will explore the exemplary character of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as a model for personal and national reform, highlighting his leadership and beneficence as keys to development.
The conference will feature various sessions, including lectures by renowned scholars addressing critical aspects of the theme. Other key highlights include recitations of the Holy Qur’an, praises of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), a special message from the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Community, and goodwill messages from Nigerian leaders. Notable figures invited to the event include Nigerian President and Commander- In Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors across the federation, as well as political, religious, and traditional leaders. Special prayers will also be offered for the nation’s peace and progress.
In his address, Alhaji Alatoye explained that the Jalsa Salana is the annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, initiated by the community’s founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him), in 1891. He emphasized that the gathering is rooted in the Qur’anic principle that states: “There is no good in many of their conferences except the conferences of such as enjoin charity, or goodness, or the making of peace among men” (Qur’an 4:115).
The Amir further expatiated that Jalsa Salana serves as a platform to address the moral deficiencies and leadership gaps contributing to societal unrest in the world, particularly in Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of godliness, truthfulness, and righteousness in fostering peace and progress, lamenting the current state of the nation caused by corruption, ignorance, and inhumane acts.
Reflecting on the history of the event, Alhaji Alatoye recounted that the journey toward the 70th anniversary began in April 1949, with a weekly meeting at the Ahmadiyya Central Mosque on Ojo Giwa Street, Lagos Island. This inaugural meeting was attended by 75 delegates, comprising 50 men, 25 women, and children, mirroring the first-ever Jalsa Salana held in Qadian, India, in 1891, which also welcomed 75 participants.
The conference has since evolved into a global phenomenon, attracting millions of attendees worldwide.
Prominent figures such as former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and former Governors Olusegun Osoba and Rauf Aregbesola have also attended past editions of the Jalsa Salana, commending the Ahmadiyya Community for its contributions to peace and development in Nigeria and globally.
In preparation for this year’s historic 70th anniversary event, the Amir has embarked on courtesy visits to key Islamic scholars and traditional rulers across the country. Among those visited are Sheikh Muideen Ajani Bello, Sheikh Abbas Zakariyyah in Ibadan, and His Royal Highness Dr. Abubakar Ahmad Sodiq Yakubu, the Ejeh of Anka Kingdom in Abuja, extending invitations to them to join in the event’s spiritual and social upliftment.
