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Ahmadiyya Head inaugurates Khilafat Centenary
Jalsa Salana (Convention) 2008 in Ghana
Ghana President also addressed the Convention.
AHMADIYYA MUSLIM JAMA’AT
- SRI LANKA 619/4, Baseline Road, Colombo 9, Sri Lanka.
The first Convention of the Khilafat (the establishment of Spiritual
Leadership) Centenary was yesterday inaugurated by the Head of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad at Baag-e-Ahmad
(Garden of Ahmad) in Ghana. The opening session was attended also by
His Excellency, President J.A. Kufuor, Head of State of the Republic
of Ghana. The event was telecast live via satellite link throughout
the world on MTA. Thus millions of people around the world took part
in this historic event.
Throughout his address, His Holiness spoke of his special love and
bond with the Ghanaian Jama’at (Community) which was a result of
the eight years he had spent living in Ghana, some years prior to being
appointed Head of the Ahmadiyya Community. His Holiness said:
“I have great expectations of Ghana. It is my prayer, that may
you always march forward. Perhaps these aspirations are because I spent
part of my life here.”
His Holiness commented on the devotion of the Ghanaian Jama’at
towards the institution of Khilafat. He said that in this respect they
most certainly were an example to Ahmadis in other parts of the world.
His Holiness congratulated the Jama’at for having fulfilled their
pledge of allegiance. However he counselled against complacency by urging
members of the Community to continue to bow down before Almighty God
in prayer.
In the latter part of his address, His Holiness instructed that every
Ahmadi Muslim must try and improve himself and that it was necessary
for each person to develop the qualities of absolute truth and forbearance.
If these two principles were inculcated it would lead to the progression
of society as a whole and to a situation of entrenched peace. These
two principles, if obeyed, could rid the world of many of the ills that
it faces today. His Holiness concluded his speech by wishing the country
of Ghana continued prosperity and expressing his belief that the continued
development of Ghana was dependent upon the hard work of its Government
and citizens alike.
Following the address of His Holiness, His Excellency President Kufuor
took to the stage and whereupon he congratulated the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community on its Centenary celebrations and expressed his delight that
the first Convention of the year was taking place in Ghana. Referring
to Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, His Excellency said that His Holiness
was no stranger to Ghana as he had lived there for a number of years
and thus had assumed the multiple roles of brother, friend and teacher
to the people of Ghana.
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