by A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.

Muslims should rejoice the era of Islam’s revival’: Ahmadiyya Supreme Head (Khalifa) delivers concluding address at Qadian Convention (Jalsa Salana) 2023

The three day 128^th Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Qadian, India, concluded with a faith inspiring address by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, on 31 December 2023.

His Holiness addressed the final session via satellite link from the Masroor Hall, Islamabad, Tilford, UK. Over 15,000 people attended the Convention in Qadian from 42 countries including Sri Lanka, while more than 5,000 gathered in Islamabad, Tilford for the concluding session.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

Today, the annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Qadian, India, is drawing to a close, and simultaneously, annual conventions are being held or are about to be held in various other countries. At this very moment, the closing sessions of annual conventions in different countries, such as Senegal, Togo, Guinea-Conakry, and Guinea-Bissau, are taking place, and their live transmissions are ongoing. There is a two-way transmission; we can see them and they can see us. All this fulfils the promise made by Allah to the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, that:

‘I shall make you famous with honour to the ends of the earth and shall exalt your name and shall put your love in the hearts of the people. We have made you Masih Ibn-e-Maryam [Messiah, son of Mary]. Tell them: I have come in the footsteps of Jesus.’ [Tadhkirah (English), p. 242]

Thus, the arrangement of these conventions in countries around the world, the calling of the name of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him), with respect and honour, and the slogan of his name, all are manifestations of this divine promise, affirming that he is the Promised Messiah and the Awaited Mahdi, as per the promise of Allah and the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Today, this small settlement of Qadian, which was just an ordinary village or town over a hundred years ago, has transformed into a beautiful city. Indeed, it has gained worldwide renown, and this fame is due to the name of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and the promise made to him by Allah.

A man residing in a small place, difficult to access and devoid of resources, claimed that Allah the Almighty had promised him, ‘I shall make you famous with honour.’

And then this promise is being magnificently fulfilled, because Allah the Almighty is fulfilling the prophecy made to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the arrival of his most ardent devotee in the fourteenth century to initiate a new era of the revival of the religion [of Islam].

Thus, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, is the Promised Messiah and Mahdi who has come for the revival of faith and the completion of the propagation of Islam, in accordance with the promises of Allah the Almighty.

Therefore, Muslims should rejoice that the era of the second advent of Islam has arrived, a time to overcome weaknesses and to spread and preach Islam. However, the selfish interests of so-called scholars are inciting them to mislead the general Muslim populace from the right path. But a time will come when they will have to acknowledge the truth. This too is a promise of Allah the Almighty to the Promised Messiah (peace be on him), that ultimately, these people will believe.

Then Ahmadiyya Khalifa spoke about the mission of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the Promised Messiah, peace be on him) in relation to the divine support he received.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa also mentioned that countless signs are still being fulfilled and that many people are being guided to Ahmadiyyat. The Ahmadis are being spiritually uplifted by the fulfilment of these signs.

Ahmadiyya Supreme Head then gave examples of a few incidents that showed God’s blessings and succour to Ahmadi Muslims. His Holiness expressed that only the pure of heart can understand such signs and benefit from them.

Ahmadiyya Khalifa said:

Today, all of you who are participating in the Convention  (Jalsa) in Qadian, and all those who are attending the Convention in their respective countries, are affirming that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, is indeed the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, who came in accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. With him has always been, and will always be, the support of Allah the Almighty, insha-Allah. Every Ahmadi should also pledge to tirelessly strive to fulfil the purpose of the mission of Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. Continually assess your external and internal states and strive to improve them.”

The session concluded with silent prayers followed by various poems recited by groups in Qadian (India) via satellite link.