AHMADIYYA CONVENTION IN CANADA CONCLUDES
Posted on July 11th, 2012
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at, Sri Lanka.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The first ever ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sir Zafarulla Khan Distinguished Public Service AwardƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ presented by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The three-day 36th Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at in Canada concluded on Sunday 8th July 2012 with a powerful and faith inspiring address by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Fifth Khalifa.
The Annual Convention was held at the International Centre, Mississauga and was attended by more than 18.000 people from across Canada and twenty three other countries. The conference was also broadcast live on MTA International globally. Apart from the thousands of Ahmadis in attendance, over 1,000 guests, including more than 70 dignitaries participated in the Concluding session.
The presence of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who had travelled from London to attend the Convention, led to a highly emotional and charged atmosphere as the Ahmadi Muslims were overwhelmed at being in the presence of the Khalifa.
His Holiness used his address to speak about the Institution of Khilafat (Spiritual Leadership in Islam) itself. He said that according to the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at, the Khalifa of the Promised Messiah, was Divinely appointed and thus was GodƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Chosen representative on earth.
His Holiness said that the support and help of God Almighty was with the Khilafat and this had been repeatedly proved by countless signs in its favour.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Today, nobody can raise the allegation that the progress of our JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at (community) has halted or, God forbid, gone backwards. In fact even those who oppose us are forced to admit that the speed with which the JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at is progressing is ever increasing and it is spreading to all parts of the world. Hence this proves that the Khalifa is appointed through GodƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Election.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
His Holiness said that from the most humble beginnings, the Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at had now spread to 200 countries across the world and that this was in itself an example of AllahƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s support for the Jamaat.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that even in the most remote towns and villages of the world, where there was no electricity or water available, Allah the Almighty had instilled the love of the Ahmadiyya Khilafat in the hearts of the local people.
Thereafter, His Holiness narrated a number of examples from various parts of the world where people who had come to accept Ahmadiyyat after seeing guiding signs. Many people who had never heard of the JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at had seen dreams or other divine signs that had led them towards accepting Ahmadiyyat as the true Islam.
Earlier in the session, various dignitaries also took to the stage and spoke at the Convention. OntarioƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Minister of Community Services, Margaret Best, spoke of how she was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”honoured to be in the presence of His Holiness, who is such a champion of religious freedomƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
PakistanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Acting Consul-General, Muhammad Imran Chaudhary congratulated the Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”on holding such a magnificent JalsaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. He also said that the State of Pakistan could learn from the organisation and discipline of the JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at.
Sean Casey MP, from Prince Edward Island, praised the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for its ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”peaceful, tolerant and just valuesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
The Mayor of the City of Vaughan, Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua said that all 300,000 citizens of Vaughan welcomed Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad to the city and said that the Ahmadiyya Muslim JamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢at constantly ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”displayed all forms of love through its actionsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
Senator Salma Ataullahjan said that events such as the Jalsa Salana (convention) were a means of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”promoting unity and thus very importantƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
OntarioƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Charles Sousa, said:
“On behalf of the Premier, Government and people of Ontario, I would like to thank His Holiness for his leadership. We are very fortunate to be able to welcome His Holiness once again.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Speaker of the House of OntarioƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Parliament, Hon Dave Levac said:
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Your Holiness, I stand before you, humbled by your presence and grateful to be before you. I thank you for coming here and sharing your wisdom, leadership and faith. Thank you for showing us that love conquers all.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
The first ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sir Zafrulla Khan Distinguished Public Service AwardƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was also presented during the concluding session of the Convention (Jalsa Salana)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad to Hon. Greg Sorbara, a member of OntarioƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Provincial Parliament. He was honoured for his long term public service to Canada.
Upon accepting the award he spoke of his great pride at being the first ever recipient. He spoke also of his respect for Sir Zafarulla Khan after whom the award has been named. He said that Sir Zafarulla had proved to be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”one of the great men of the past 150 yearsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in the world.
The Convention (Jalsa Salana) concluded with a silent prayer led by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
July 11th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Ahmadiyya now introducing awards to promote peace and harmony in the society. Now, ‘Sir Zafarulla Khan Distinguished Public Service Award’. Good. Earlier they introduced ‘Ahmadiyya Peace Award’. Every year they present this award for wonderful reasons. i do not know about Sir Zafarulla – Anyone please, tell something about him.
July 12th, 2012 at 12:35 am
A time will come when the Ahmadiyya Awards will be dominant over all including Nobel Prize.
July 12th, 2012 at 12:52 am
@ Nesta
Sir Zafrullah Khan was Born in 1893 in Sialkot, Pakistan in what was to become one of the earliest Ahmadiyya households, this small town boy rose to be one of the shrewdest legal minds of his time. He got his law degree from King’s College London in 1914, where he stood top of his class and was the first person from the Indian subcontinent to do so. He was, like most great figures of that time, called to bar at Lincoln’s Inn.
Later he was offered a seat on Viceroy’s permanent Council, which he took to further his cause. He also served at varying times as the minister of Railways, Public works, labour and law under the Viceroy. For a brief period, he also became British India’s representative to the League of Nations, just before it was dissolved.
On 25th December 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah appointed him the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. At the UN, Sir Zafrullah emerged as the most eloquent advocate of all third world and Islamic issues. It was Zafrullah Khan whose efforts materialized into the UN Resolutions on Kashmir, which are the basis of the Pakistani case and grievance. Later he became the first Asian President of the International Court of Justice, a singular and unique honor for any Pakistani. He also served, briefly, as the President of the UN General Assembly.
Muhammad Zafarullah Khan’s logical and forceful advocacy of the cause of the Arabs in particular, and his support to the aspirations of the subject nations of Africa and the Third World, in general, on the forum of the United Nations and outside it, won him universal appreciation and respect.
His Majesty King Faisal-al-Saud, who in his capacity as Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia headed the Saudi Arabian delegation to the United Nations, in a letter, dated May 5, 1948, to Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, thanked him `for your close co-operation and the noble stand which your Excellency has taken, not only during the meeting but since the question of Palestine has been put before the United Nations. Allow me to state that your high principles have created a desire on the part of all righteous persons to identify themselves with the efforts of your Excellency, not only on behalf of the Arabs, but Moslems all over the world as well’, the letter adds.
Syed Amin Husseini, Grand Mufti of Palestine, in a telegram dated, Cairo, March 1, 1950, says:
“Wish re-assure Your Excellency our deep appreciation your invaluable efforts for just causes of Islam. May God guard you crowning your efforts with success.”
Senator Jalal Hussein of Egypt in a telegram to Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, dated June, 24, 1952, says:
“Assure Your Excellency wholehearted appreciation of your indefatigable efforts to serve Islamic countries. Arabs aware of your Jihad for Islam.”
Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarullah Khan was distinguished not only as an expounder of Islam but as a leader in public life. He was an eminent scholar in the field of comparative religion. He is the author of a number of books in Islam and about its comparison with other faiths. He belongs to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam.
He passed away in September of 1983 in Lahore. May Allah the Almighty grant him high status in Heaven, Ameen.