By Roqeebah Jimoh
Jalsa Salana, a gathering filled with Allāh’s blessings, is an annual three-day convention introduced by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (A.S) in 1891 with only 75 members in attendance at Qaadian. More than a 100 years later, the convention has continuously been held in many countries across the continents of the world with many thousand participants.
In 1954, Nigeria as a country, held her first Jalsa Salana and this year’s convention makes it the 70th Jalsa Salana in the country. Jalsa Salana is not just an ordinary gathering, It is a holy gathering and it’s incumbent on all Ahmadi Muslims to treat it with foremost importance.
In the words of The Promised Messiah’s A.S;
“Do not consider this Jalsa to be equivalent to any ordinary worldly gathering. The fact of the matter is that it is founded upon the pure support of truth and the propagation of Islam. The foundation stone of this Jamaat has been laid by Allah the Almighty Himself, and nations have been readied that will soon come to join its fold. This is due to the fact that it is the work of the All-Powerful God, for Whom, nothing is impossible.” (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat [2019], Vol. 1, p. 361)
The main and most important purpose of the initiation of this holy gathering is to increase Righteousness among the members of the community, thereby increasing us in piety.
His Holiness (atba) said that worldly things should not draw an Ahmadi away from righteousness, the worship of God or cause them to forget worship and snatch away their high moral standards. For those who have migrated outside of Pakistan to European or Western countries, their circumstances have significantly improved. Hence these aspects should be kept well in mind. It was hence that the Promised Messiah (as) said he had established the Jalsa Salana as a means of increasing righteousness and creating an environment conducive to moral training. The very purpose for pledging allegiance to the Promised Messiah (as) is to increase in righteousness, and this is the very purpose which should be borne in mind when attending the Jalsa.
His Holiness (atba) quoted the Promised Messiah (as) who said that the work which one naturally has to do in this world should not draw them away from righteousness.
{Jalsa Salana Germany; fulfilling the objectives outlined by The Promised Messiah (A.S), Friday Sermon held on the 23rd of August,2024}
As members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, we should make sure we’re striving to strike a balance between Faith and worldly affairs. We shouldn’t trade our righteousness away in all aspects because of worldly frivolities as we’re just present on earth for a short period. It is therefore important that the Followers of Mahdi A.S give their faith precedence over all things and remember Allāh always and this holy gathering gives us the opportunity to increase ourselves in piety as the three-day convention activities are filled with the remembrance of Allāh.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوب
“Those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allāh. Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allāh that hearts can find comfort”
(Qur’ān 13 verse 28)
The remembrance of Allāh brings comfort to the heart and taking into consideration how the world is evolving every day, this is the only way we can hold firmly to the threshold of our religion. It is therefore necessary that we try our best to fulfil the purpose of the initiation of Jalsa Salana by The Promised Messiah (A.S) one of which is the remembrance of God and by doing this, we’re also doing our souls a great benefit.
BENEFITS OF ATTENDING JALSA SALANA
لَّا خَيْرَ فِى كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَىٰهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَٰحٍۭ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“ There is no good in ma y of their conferences except the conferences of such as enjoin charity ,or goodness ,or the making of peace among men. And whoso does that, seeking the pleasure of Allāh , We shall soon bestow on him a great reward “
(Suuratun Nisaa’ Verse 114)
In the aforementioned verse above, Allāh, the Almighty mentioned the qualities of a good conference. Does Jalsa Salana offer these benefits to humanity? Let’s find out in subsequent paragraphs;
Firstly , Attending Jalsa Salana brings a believer closer to His Creator than ever before. In a gathering where every activity is laced with sincere worship and piety and with constant remembrance of Allāh, majority of the attendees would surely strive to participate while seeking for Allāh’s blessings and Mercy. In a world filled with so many trials and tribulations where people strive to make ends meet while balancing it with their faith, this Holy gathering provides an opportunity to grow in faith. It is also a means of acceptance of Prayers. We’ve heard different stories of attendees of jalsa Salana over the years and each testimony is an attestation to the fact that the presence of God is strongly felt.
The Promised Messiah AS states:
“This gathering will be devoted to the exposition of such truths and spiritual insight as are necessary for the promotion of faith and certainty and spiritual understanding.” (The Heavenly Decree, p. 74)
Secondly, this holy gathering gives the attendees to acquire more knowledge about Islām and Ahmadiyya. In this gathering, soul-inspiring lectures which one will benefit greatly from are being delivered.
The Promised Messiah AS says;
“[…] so that every sincere person may have the opportunity to directly gain religious benefits and their knowledge may expand and their spiritual insight may develop by the grace and blessings of God Almighty.” (Ishtihar 7 December 1892[Urdu], Majmu‘a-e-Ishtiharat Vol. 1, p. 340)
Attending jalsa Salana provides us the opportunity to broaden our horizons on religious topics. Seeking knowledge Is compulsory in Islām, it’s important that we strive hard to add to our knowledge from time to time and this gathering offers this.
Thirdly, This gathering promotes unity and peace. The community keeps welcoming new converts every now and then, it therefore enables the members to strengthen the ties of brotherhood.
The Promised Messiah AS mentioned this great objective and important purpose in the following words:
“An additional benefit of these gatherings will be that each year new entrants to the Jama‘at shall, by being present on the fixed dates, get to know their brethren who had joined earlier. And these meetings will lead to a progressive strengthening of the bond of mutual love and affection.” (The Heavenly Decree, p. 74)
He further states:
“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 December 1892[Urdu], Majmu‘a-e-Ishtiharat Volume 1, p. 340)
This is also in line with the verse mentioned above in the Holy Qur’an. Attending Jalsa Salana improves the mutual relations among members. Members come from different states in the country and even different countries every year to attend the Jalsa Salana. The gathering paves way for these members to mix freely with their own gender without any form of discrimination of tribes or races thereby contributing to the promotion of peace in the world.
Furthermore, Majority of the attendees including the rich or the less privileged volunteer to work in different sections in the gathering. While working for the sake of Allāh, they try to endure the hardships and struggles that come with it. Their patience and endurance level are being tested and this prepares them to deal with trials and tribulations that come their way in future. Pleasing others at one’s discomfort is not easy and In the words of Promised Messiah AS, He said;
“Man’s faith can never be right unless he puts his brother’s comfort before his own as much as possible […] Being a servant of the nation is a sign of becoming one who one day will be served. Talking softly and humbly to the poor is a sign of being accepted by God. Responding to evil with good is a sign of being fortunate. Suppressing anger and swallowing bitter words is a sign of the highest form of bravery.” (Shahadat-ul-Quran, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 6, pp. 395-396)
In a gathering filled with people of different personalities, it is therefore expected that as a volunteer in any section of the gathering, All guests’ needs must be catered for respectfully and in the course of this, nice words should be said throughout the exercise. This also teaches the volunteers the act of patience and endurance. In regards to the treatment of guests, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) says:
“I am always mindful that no guest should be inconvenienced and this is why I always give instructions that as much as possible, guests should be afforded comfort. The heart of a guest is fragile like glass and is broken by the slightest of knocks.
“Previously I had it so arranged that I used to eat with the guests. However, since my illness has increased and I have started eating special diet, that arrangement remains no more. In addition, the number of guests increased so much that there was lack of space, therefore, reluctantly I eat separately. Everyone has my permission to present his problem. Some people are not well and special dietary arrangements can be made for them.” (Malfuzat Vol. 2 p. 292, 2003 edition)
Such is the personality of The Promised Messiah AS. Ahmadiyyah Muslim Community plays a vital role in ensuring that the world breeds people with great level of patience and endurance and people who have the best interests of their fellow beings at heart. While working in any section during Jalsa Salana, it’s very important that we maintain a friendly face all through the exercise, this doesn’t just make us approachable but it also makes us susceptible to the Blessings of Allāh.
The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya community Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V ATBA in his address to the volunteers of Jalsa Salana says:
“Smiling is a very important trait, especially for the workers of Jalsa. Certainly, the volunteers will be fatigued and deprived of sleep, but no matter the circumstances, they should always remain smiling.” (Friday Sermon, 21st July 2023)
Conclusively, Jalsa Salana gives us the chance to be in the company of the righteous people who are above us in spirituality. By this, we can also improve our spirituality by virtue of being amongst the righteous and truthful ones.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
“O yẹ who believe, fear Allāh and be with the truthful “ (Tawbah verse 119)
Allāh enjoined His servants to be among the truthful ones and this is also always fulfilled in Jalsa Salana.
May Allāh make this year’s convention a successful one. Āmīn thumma Āmīn
