Ahmadiyya conference concludes
Posted on August 3rd, 2010
AHMADIYYAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MUSLIMƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ JAMAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢AT – SRI LANKA
The three-day international Ahmadiyya Conference concluded on August 1, 2010, at Hadeeqatul Mahdi in Alton, Hampshire, U.K.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This international event attracted great interest with at least 30,000 delegates from over 80 countries. The event began with His Holiness leading the Friday prayers (Jumma) on 30th July. His Holiness took the opportunity to speak about the true Islam, which is so often misrepresented in the media. He said Islam was a religion of peace, tolerance and mutual love and was based upon a love of God Almighty. This love was the reason why so many people had travelled so far, at great difficulty to take part in the event.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The event recommenced in the evening when His Holiness raised the Flag of Ahmadiyyat as a means to officially open the Jalsa. As a symbol of the JamaatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s commitment and loyalty to the United Kingdom, simultaneously the Union Jack was also raised. This was done in compliance with the instruction of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who taught that love of oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s nation is part of oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s faith.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In his inaugural address full of emotion and powerful, His Holiness spoke about the courage displayed by the 86 Ahmadi Muslims who were brutally martyred in Lahore on May 28. Speaking about the long history of persecution faced by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and specifically the Lahore incident, His Holiness said that a true believer would never allow fear to compromise his faith. Ahmadi Muslims were being threatened throughout the world by extremists who had hijacked the religion of Islam for the benefit of their own political vested interests. Yet this had not inculcated a state of fear or paralysis but instead had brought about a resolution of faith and a determination to grow ever closer to God Almighty.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Those who persecute us had hoped and expected that after the Lahore attacks we would become scared and fearful. But in the wake of that tragedy our true spirit has emerged, that we are not scared of anyone or anything except God Almighty.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His Holiness spoke about the spirit of sacrifice that the martyrdoms in Lahore had brought about. The opponents had hoped that the Ahmadis would become divided but instead these attacks had brought them even closer together. Ahmadis were now joined in prayer not only for themselves and their families but for the Jamaat itself.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Concluding his address, His Holiness quoted the examples of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – the Promised Messiah. He said that they had both faced trial after trial but had always borne such trials with patience and through their examples they had created communities who were willing to bear any sacrifice for the sake of their faith. The living example today of such sacrifice was the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, he added.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Short speeches were made by the distinguished guests who praised the world-wide Ahmadiyya Community for its outstanding service to the humanity.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Further speeches were delivered by the Ahmadi scholars about the role of religion in contemporary society and the misrepresentation of true Islam in the modern world.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The conference included a world-wide initiation ceremony that is held every year at the time of the Annual Convention in which large numbers of people from different countries gather at some places in their respective countries and then via satellite (MTA-Muslim TV Ahmadiyya) take an oath of allegiance at the hand of the leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. His Holiness announced that 458744 people joined the Community during the past one year.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The proceedings of convention were being broadcast live by MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya), the CommunityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s 24 hour free satellite TV channel which also offers simultaneous translations into several languages.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His Holiness led the congregation in a silent prayer. Millions of Ahmadi Muslims throughout the world who were watching via MTA International simultaneously joined in with the prayer.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Best Regards,
A. Abdul Aziz.
Press Secretary,
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamath,