By A. Abdul Aziz.

 (Given below is an excerpt of the Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, on 5^th September, 2014, at ‘BaithulFuthuh’, London, U.K. gave a discourse on the recently concluded Jalsa Salana (Convention) U.K.

 With the grace of Allah, the atmosphere of  the Convention (Jalsa Salana) affects each pious-natured soul. Some non-Muslims and non-Ahmadis only come to the Convention (Jalsa) to find out how real are the blessings and beneficences of Convention (Jalsa) as expressed to them by their Ahmadi friends. After experiencing Jalsa majority of them acknowledge that they find their experience to be greater than envisaged and some are so impressed and affected that they end up taking Bai’at (Initiation). This year two Russian guests took Bai’at after observing the Jalsa atmosphere. Although guests from Guatemala, Chile and Costa Rica from South America did not take Bai’at during Jalsa, but it left a great mark on them and later on, during mulaqat with Huzoor they expressed regret at not taking Bai’at earlier and acknowledged they had recognised the truth and wished to take Bai’at. Thus, six people, four men and two women took Bai’at yesterday after Zuhr Prayer.

 A friend from Costa Rica said that he was most impressed by the excellent arrangements put in place by the Jama’at and how each worker performed his duty. He said he was delighted to have discussions with guests from other countries and felt his faith had enhanced. He said the advice in the addresses of Ahmadiyya Khalifa (Hazrat Khalifatul Masih) was meant for the entire Muslim world without any distinction between Sunni or Shia Muslims!

 A lady from Costa Rica said that attending convention was a unique experience and the mutual love of people of different ethnicities left a great mark on her. She felt the spiritual atmosphere of international Bai’at was redolent of the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). These were some of the attendees from Guatemala, Chile and Costa Rica, who, having seen the international Bai’at at Jalsa, were completely convinced yesterday and took Bai’at.

 The Ahmadiyya Jama’at disseminates the beautiful message of Islam and each visitor can see its display of love and affection which compels them to be part of the true Islamic model or at least their objections against Islam are negated through it. This is a proof of the fact that Islamic teaching has never been outdated and Divine help and succour has never left Jama’at Ahmadiyya.

 Next Ahmadiyya Khalifa present comments of some distinguished guests who attended the convention.

The Speaker from Kinshasa, Congo said that it was his first visit to convention and he saw the entire proceedings including international Bai’at (initiation ceremony). He felt everyone at the convention interacted with each other as old friends. He said they once tried to hold an event on provincial level at home where due to disorganisation 26 people died on the first day. He was amazed at the organisation of Jalsa where no one even spoke in a raised tone and small children served drinking water most lovingly. Children usually like to have everything for themselves but the Jama’at has thus trained its young children that they put the comfort of others first. He wrote that after attending Jalsa he went to his embassy and told the ambassador that he had attended many a conference but had never seen one with the excellent organisation he saw at Jalsa (Convention).

 The Foreign Minister of Benin said that he did not have the words to express praise for Jalsa organisation. He saw extraordinary fervour to serve among children and adults including the elderly who had no concern for themselves and only wanted to make Jalsa successful. He said he has seen the world and has experienced arrangements made by a super powers like the USA but has never seen excellent arrangements like he saw at Jalsa. He said the secret behind the strength of the Jama’at was their Khalifa and also said that today only Jama’at Ahmadiyya is working for peace and brotherhood!

 Defence Minister of Uganda said that it was not possible to express what he experienced at Jalsa. He saw the exhibition and also had meeting with Ahmadiyya Khalifa when he told His Holiness that only an army could bring about the discipline he saw at Jalsa Huzoor remarked that even his [Ugandan] army could not organise such discipline, he agreed!

 A guest from Greece who does Greek translation for the Jama’at sent an email saying that it was not a small matter to see such a large number of people gathered in such a peaceful way for the sake of love and peace and to pray. He said Jama’at Ahmadiyya does not simply give hand-outs to the underprivileged people in fact it helps them stand on their own feet through various projects and is most humble in spite of all its services. He said he experienced no complaint from anyone during Jalsa and saw all the volunteers helping out cheerfully. They all worked extremely hard at serving the guests and all of them wanted the guests to feel completely at home at the Jamia where they were staying.

 A television director was among the guests from Nigeria. He said that all the arrangements at the convention were of international standard and the speeches were excellent. The Bai’at ceremony left a deep impression on him. He said he felt very emotional in the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih because he could see how all Ahmadis submitted before their Khalifa. He said he had never before witnessed such love and affection as shown by all those present at Jalsa and he said on return home he will tell others that this what all Muslims need to adopt.

 A lady newspaper assistant editor from Nigeria said that having attended the Jalsa she realised that every member of the Jama’at had sentiments of love and affection for each other and everyone greeted each other with a smile and was ever ready to help each other. She said she has been a journalist for eighteen years and could say without hesitation that only Jama’at Ahmadiyya was a true Islamic model. Men and women both greeted guests with love and friendliness and she had never seen this at any other Islamic event.

 The mayor of a city in Belgium said that he was made aware of the true teachings of Islam after attending the convention and he saw with his own eyes how this teaching was put in practice by Ahmadis. He could see mutual love and affection in their eyes. Before coming to convention he had only seen the Jama’at on a local level. However, after Jalsa he had seen how it operated on an international level and felt that it practiced what it preached. He felt the arrangements at Jalsa were excellent and he was taking back sentiments of love and affection. He had visited the stalls of Humanity First and Engineers Association and was amazed how the Jama’at was serving humanity. He felt his appreciation of the Jama’at was enhanced after the convention.

 A vice mayor of a city in Belgium said that he experienced Islam at Jalsa contrary to how the media depicts it. He felt it was a great virtue to spread the true message of Islam and unite all humanity. He said he had observed how the Jama’at strove to serve humanity in his city, however, after coming to conventionn he now realises that that the Jama’at strove to serve humanity throughout the world. He felt there was no other faith which was serving as the Jama’at was. He was very impressed by the diligence of the duty-holders at Jalsa and felt that if people back home worked just as hard perhaps his country would not have experienced the economic downturn that it faces.

 A guest from Malta who is a social worker said that what he liked best was young child serving drinking water. He also liked the instruction of Ahmadiyya Khalifa (Hazrat Khalifatul Masih) to comply with whatever instruction the workers were given even if they came from young people. He said he was impressed to note that in a Jalsa booklet advice was given not to waste food and only take what could be easily eaten. He was please the Jama’at paid attention to minute matters.

 A journalist from Malta who is also a television host and has known the Jama’at for three years interviewed Huzoor. He said it was evident to him that the Jama’at has made great progress in 125 years and was now established in 206 countries. He felt this could not be possible without Divine held. Referring to the discipline at convention he said wherever there is discipline, there is God. Huzoor remarked this person is a Christian. He said that on his return to Malta he would prepare an hour long documentary for his TV station based on Ahmadiyya Khalifa’s interview and the Jama’at.

 Ahmadi as well as non-Ahmadi guests from French Guiana also came to Jalsa. Among them was a Christian professor who said that when he was invited to convention he did not understand why these people wanted to invite him. However, he now understood that the significance of Jalsa was not limited to the Jama’at; in fact it was a significant event for the world. He said he derived amazing peace when listening to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and has obtained audio recordings of the same.

 Many journalists came to the convention this year, from here and from abroad. A Hindu lady journalist said that her mother had warned her not to go to an event of Muslims as they were dangerous people who may kill her and no one would find out. She said after experiencing convention she plans to tell her mother that Ahmadis were more peaceful than Hindus and felt that her mother should also experience the beautiful teachings given at the convention.

 A lady journalist from Belize, where Jama’at was established this year, came to convention. She is also a TV anchor. She said that Jalsa (convention) experience proved to be more pleasant than she had expected. She had reflected on our motto of ‘Love for all hatred for none’ and felt that indeed, she experienced love all around convention. She said she would always remember what the Jama’at gave to her and she thanked all those who gave duty at convention. She said she was born to a very strict Sunni Muslim family and in reaction to their harsh ways she abandoned Islamic teachings but still believed in God. Her experience of convention was unique where she felt no Ahmadi girl or women was restricted in any way and went about their business freely, roamed in the bazaar and met each other lovingly. She said she felt had she been born in an Ahmadi home she would not have reacted as rebelliously as she did with her family. She said she had made many friends at convention.

 A lady journalist guest said that she was a religious person who shunned alcohol and tobacco and went to Church regularly. However, she did not ever experience the respect she felt at convention at her Church; she said she felt very special at convention.

 A non-Ahmadi friend from Kazakhstan thanked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih and the Jama’at from the bottom of his heart for inviting him to Jalsa. He said as a religious scholar who had researched different faiths for half a century he found our motto Love for all hatred for none most attractive. This was something other Islamic movements had not reflected over. In the current times of turmoil when extremism is at its height and religious intolerance is widespread it was only the Ahmadiyya Jama’at which was working on mankind-friendly projects to once again illuminate the world with the teachings which have been inherent in the religion of Islam from the beginning. It is true that these teachings are close to the hearts of tens of millions as indeed they are close to the Kazakh people. This is the fear the so-called religious leaders have and this is why they are trying their utmost to harm the Ahmadiyya Jama’at.

 Huzoor said prayers should be made for the safety of Kazakh Ahmadis.

 Many distinguished guests came to convention from Sierra Leone. One of them said that convention was broadcast Live on Sierra Leone television and was also viewed by the country’s President. After watching speech by Tommy Kallon he rang one of his delegates present at Jalsa and sent congratulations for the convention.

 Minister of Legal Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago came to convention and said that the Jama’at’s love for Ahmadiyya Khalifa (Hazrat Khalifatul Masih) could not be described in words. He said the Jalsa organisation was tremendous and one could sense that God’s hand was behind the Jama’at. He said he was greatly moved by attending the convention.

 Director of the Ministry of Culture of Haiti was also a guest at the convention. He said he was delighted to attend the convention and having seen the organisation of convention he felt that Jama’at was an exemplary community for the rest of the world. He said he was amazed to see everyone work at Jalsa and admired them all, both young and old.

 Next Ahmadiyya Khalifa presented comments of some new comers to the Jama’at.

 A lady from Mexico said she learnt many things by coming to Jalsa. Not only was she made cognisant of the reality of life but she also realised the reasons behind the current state of the Muslim world. She said she used to feel that the sect she belonged to was fine but after attending convention she realised that it was here that the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was followed. She used to pray to be included in the best of people and be guided by rightful Khilafat. She felt God had listened to her prayer by enabling her to join Jama’at Ahmadiyya.

 A new Ahmadi from Mexico said that he felt people from different countries of the world were filled with love for the Khalifa of the time. He said Jama’at is an exemplary community and was an embodiment of the teachings of Islam.

 A new Ahmadi from Panama said that he was most impressed by the organisation of convention and the love and unity expressed by everyone. He said he felt a revolutionary change had come about in his life.

A friend from Mali who took Bai’at Jalsa said that the feelings he experienced during Jalsa were feelings he had never before felt in his life. He felt even if our opponents tried their level best they could not organise even a fraction of an event like Jalsa Salana. He added that even a great power like the UNO could not manage to organise an event like this convention.

 With the grace of Allah this year the central press team and the UK press team both worked very well and for the first time Jalsa coverage was good through which the message of Ahmadiyyat, true Islam reached people. Through the contacts of the central press team press and media had also come from abroad and they all made positive comments. The message of Ahmadiyyat reached about 13 million people in the UK. Articles are still being written and news disseminated and it is estimated that the message has also reached around 12 to 13 million people outside the UK.

 With the grace of Allah MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International) plays a large role in broadcasting convention \ programmes as it did this year. While Ahmadis have expressed delight at this, others have also given good comments. Response of non-Ahmadi Arabs has been very good. They have said that this indeed is true Islam and have also said that this is also the true Khilafat which the Muslim Ummah is in need of!

 MTA broadcasts were shown live on the national channels of Ghana and Sierra Leone and on a private channel in Nigeria and were very well-received. A comment from Ghana said that they had heard a lot about the Jama’at and were astonished to see MTA because their Imam had told them many falsehoods about the Jama’at! A non-Ahmadi lady decided to become an Ahmadi, an Ahmadi wrote that they had seen the international Bai’at ceremony for the first time and felt very proud to be an Ahmadi. Another person wrote that after seeing Jalsa proceedings he had understood the philosophy of the Jama’at and had decided to become an Ahmadi. Many people had sent in comments that they would soon join the Jama’at.

 A Christian friend wrote from Sierra Leone that watching the live proceeding was very blessed, another person wrote that they invited their neighbour over to watch Jalsa proceedings, another comment said what a magnificent Jalsa it was and many said that Jalsa broadcast had been very well-received by non-Ahmadis.

 In Nigeria perhaps one million people saw Jalsa (convention) proceedings on television.

 About 330,000 people watched Jalsa through live streaming; this is in addition to viewing on MTA.

With the grace of Allah, on the whole the Jalsa (convention) went very well and the guests were happy. May the good influences of Jalsa become part of our lives! Ahmadiyya Khalifa said just as the guest had thanked the workers he too thanked the men and women workers. May Allah reward them and accept their service and enable them to serve in a better way next time! May their service be not simply outwardly but may the spirit of Islamic teachings be instilled in them and may Allah make the attendees and the workers both true Ahmadis!

 Address by Distinguished Guests at the Convention, some of which – the video link:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkWMA-8iTzE&feature=youtu.be