Ahmadiyya conference opens in Hampshire

Thousands of Ahmadi Muslims from across the world have gathered at the British county of Hampshire to attend the 52nd annual Ahmadiyya Muslim convention known as Jalsa Salana.

The three day convention which opened today (Friday) has assembled about 35,000 Ahmadis from more than 80 different countries which is meant to enhance the religious knowledge of the people and promote a sense of peace and brotherhood.

Ghana’s delegation to the largest Muslim gathering in Britain is led by the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Wahab Bin Salih.

Eminent speakers

The spiritual event brings together eminent speakers including a number of politicians, civic society leaders and diplomats from different countries to discuss a range of religious topics and their relevance to contemporary society.

A special feature of the convention is the blessings with the presence of His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who addresses the convention over each of the three days, providing an invaluable insight into religious teachings and how they are a source of guidance for the world today.

The convention was officially opened with the joint hoisting of the flags of the United Kingdom and that of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

Message

In his message to the gathering, His Holiness urged Ahamdi Muslims to always endeavour to recite the Durood, which is invoking prayers on the Holy Prophet.

He described the prayers as an extremely important element of “our prayers without which we will pray in vain. Believers benefit from the blessings upon the Holy Prophet due to the invocation of Durood”.

“God almighty commands us to pray for our protection against the shortcomings committed by nations that preceded us. Today, we see that Muslims are tasty for the blood of their follow Muslims and Ahmadi Muslims must pray that God does not pervert their hearts from being guided,” he added.

He stated that some people were aware of the sins they committed while others were not which is why God commanded his children to always seek forgiveness.

Shun other gods

His Holiness decried that some people had other gods they depended on to seek their individual selfish desires adding that “mankind has replaced the true God with numerous worldly things which distract them from their true purpose”.

He underscored the need for Ahmadi Muslims to constantly recite the Durood for protection against worldly distractions which were equivalent to ‘hell fire’.

“We have no weapons or worldly powers except the sincere prayers of God Almighty for the general benefit of mankind,” he said.