• Get Involved - Jalsa

    Published on Mar 24 2010 

    Jalsa Salana

     

    In 1889, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) under Divine Guidance claimed that he was the awaited Imam Mahdi (Reformer of the Latter Days) by the Muslims, thus the Jama’at was established thereafter. Approximately two years later in May 1891, again under Divine Guidance Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) announced that he was the Promised Messiah awaited by all world religions. It was in that year that the Promised Messiah (as) held the first Jalsa Salana (Annual Gathering). Only 75 members attended the first Annual Conference, which was held from December 27th to 29th at the Aqsa Mosque in Qadian. However, this number increased year on year. At the last Jalsa Salana attended by the Promised Messiah (as) in 1907 there were two thousand in attendance. Three quarters of a century later at Jalsa Salana - Rabwah, phenomenally, more than two hundred thousand members attended the blessed meeting.

     

    The 43rd Jalsa Salana UK 2009 with a congregation of thousands over the three day period

     

    Jalsa Salana has subsequently spread all over the world as the joy of Ahmadiyyat Islam spreads. Year on in, as the Jama’at grows in size the flame of this event’s importance never diminishes. Attendance of Jalsa Salana held in different parts all over the world continues to grow and grow.
     

    Please click on one the links below to see information on the different aspects of Jalsa Salana:

    3. Things to do at Jalsa

    4. Bai’at (Pledge of Allegiance)

    5. Location and travel advice

    In understanding the purpose of the event, there is no-one better in explaining the benefits than the Promised Messiah (as) himself:

     “The primary purpose of this Convention is to enable every sincere individual to personally experience religious benefits; They may enhance their knowledge and – due to their being blessed and enabled by Allah, The Exalted - their perception [of Allah] may progress. Among its secondary benefits is that this congregational meeting together will promote mutual introduction among all brothers, and it will strengthen the fraternal ties within this Community..”

    (Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 340).

     

    “It is essential for all those who can afford to undertake the journey, that they must come to attend this Convention which embodies many blessed objectives. They should disregard minor inconveniences in the cause of Allah and His prophet (peace be upon him.). Allah yields reward to the sincere persons at every step of their way, and no labour and hardship, undertaken in His way, ever goes to waste. I re-emphasize that you must not rank this convention in the same league as other, ordinary, human assemblies. This is a phenomenon that is based purely on the Divine Help, for propagation of Islam."

    (Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 341)

    The Promised Messiah (as) has prayed for all participants of any Jalsa - past, present and future - in the following words:


    “I conclude with the prayer that everyone who travels for [attending] this Convention that is for the sake of Allah: May Allah, the Exalted, be with him, reward him in abundant measure, have mercy on him, ease up for him his circumstances of hardship and anxiety and eliminate his anguish and grief. May He grant him freedom from every single hardship and lay open for him the ways of [achieving] his cherished goals, and raise him up, on the day of Judgment, among those of His servants who are the recipients of His blessings and Mercy. May He be their Guardian in their absence until after their journey comes to an end. O Allah! O Sublime One and Bestower of bounties, the Ever Merciful and One Who Resolves all problems, do grant all these prayers, and grant us Victory over our opponents with scintillating signs, because You alone have all the prowess and power. Aameen! Aameen!!” (Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 342)
     

    One can be easily assured that this is no ordinary gathering. There are limitless benefits for all participants of Jalsa, be it spiritual and the betterment of brotherhood within the Jama’at. Members are expounded to utilise this opportunity to renew their personal faith and religion, meet and establish friendship with other members of the community, welcome new members into the fold and remember those who have passed away in the previous year in their prayers.

      

    Participants of Jalsa are advised to:

    v Convey the best of conduct and manners amongst their brethren and guests

    v Offer Salat in congregation at designated times

    v Listen quietly during the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and not to disturb others with idle chatter amongst yourselves during the formal sessions, especially as guest VIPs also speak

    v Not to waste food or litter and keep bathrooms clean

    v Focus their spare time in the remembrance of Allah 

    v Women must observe Purdah and men must observe Ghaz-e-Basr (lowering of the eyes)

    v And most importantly to constantly pray for the success of Jalsa and all the future Jalsa Salana.

     

    For further information on etiquettes please refer to the Jalsa Salana UK website (http://www.jalsasalana.org/uk/2007/docs/DirectivesForGuestsAndWorkers-EN.pdf)

     
     

    We have spoken primarily of the spiritual gains that one receives when attending Jalsa. However, there are also a number of other things to do at Jalsa Salana UK, of high benefit too. A list of many items usually on the program as well as other things one can do are listed below:

     

      

    The flag hoisting ceremony. Flags of all nations where Ahmadi communities are established are on display. An exciting event whereby Huzur (atba) raises the communities’ flag takes place. For a full video see: http://www.youtube.com/user/mtaOnline1#p/search/0/IUNW8K61VZY

     
    • Several addresses by Hadhrat Ameerul Mumineen Khalifatul Masih V (atba) on a series of current issues and topics of great importance. Past speeches translated from Urdu to English are posted in the Jalsa Salana UK archives (http://www.jalsasalana.org/uk/2009/av_archives.html)
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      • Addresses by important figures within the Jama’at such as the President of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK, Mr. Tommy Kallon amongst others.
     
    • Short speeches by distinguished guest speakers such as Local Mayors and Members of Parliament; past guests have included Tom Brake (Home Affairs Shadow Minister- Liberal Democrats), Paul Burstow (Chief Whip – Liberal Democrats), Justine Greening (Shadow Minister

    • for Communities and Local Government – Conservative Party) and Baroness Emma Nicholson (Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament).

    • Recitations of the Holy Quran and Nazm (poetry of the Promised Messiah (as))
     
    • Darsul Quran and Hadith, an explanation of the meanings within the Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (saw
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      • Fountains of knowledge to be gained from the highly subsidised bookstalls.
     
    • Photo galleries and exhibitions on the Promised Messiah (as) and his Companions (ra).

    • Radio Jalsa UK 87.7FM. Our very own radio station dedicated to Jalsa Salana UK for the three day event airing from 8:00 – 22:00 in the vicinity of Hadeeqa-tul-Mahdi and the surrounding area of Alton.

    • And for new members of the Jama’at, the most important event, the International Bai’at, a pledge of allegiance. See the section entitled Bai’at (Pledge of Allegiance) for more information.
     
      

     For a full list of the program from 2009 and a more comprehensive list of activities, please visit the Jalsa Salana UK website:  http://www.jalsasalana.org/uk/2009/Program.pdf

    On December 1st, 1888 the Promised Messiah (as) announced that God had ordained him that whosoever seeks true faith and piety, should offer Bai’at, a pledge of allegiance to him, so that Allah may shower His mercy and beneficence on them.

    On March 4th, 1889, the Promised Messiah (as) published another pamphlet in which he explained the aims and objectives of the Bai’at and also announced that those wishing to make the Bai’at, should arrive in the Indian town of Ludhiana after March 20th, 1889. The first Bai’at was taken on March 23rd, 1889 at the house of a spiritual preceptor, Hadhrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (ra). Thus he laid the foundation of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. Hadhrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin (ra) (who eventually was honoured with becoming the first Khalifatul Masih) was the person to have the honour of taking the first Ba’iat.

    The ten conditions of Bai’at for initiation into the Jama’at were laid down by the Promised Messiah (as). He made it known that anyone who wished to enter into a covenant of allegiance should swear on the following from the core of his heart:

     

    10 Conditions of Bai’at

     

    1. That he/she shall abstain from Shirk (association of any partner with God) right up to the day of his/her death.

     

    1. That he/she shall keep away from falsehood, fornication, adultery, trespasses of the eye, debauchery, dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty, mischief and rebellion; and will not permit himself/herself to be carried away by passions, however strong they might be.

     

    1. That he/she shall regularly offer the five daily prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); and shall try his/her best to be regular in offering the Tahajud (pre-dawn supererogatory prayers) and invoking Darood (blessings) on the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); that he/she shall make it his/her daily routine to ask forgiveness for his/her sins, to remember the bounties of God and to praise and glorify Him.

     

    1. That under the impulse of any passions, he/she shall cause no harm whatsoever to the creatures of Allah in general, and Muslims in particular, neither by his/her tongue nor by his/her hands nor by any other means.

     

    1. That he/she shall remain faithful to God in all circumstances of life, in sorrow and happiness, adversity and prosperity, in felicity and trial; and shall in all conditions remain resigned to the decree of Allah and keep himself/herself ready to face all kinds of indignities and sufferings in His way and shall never turn away from it at the onslaught of any misfortune; on the contrary, he/she shall march forward.

     

    1. That he/she shall refrain from following un-islamic customs and lustful inclinations, and shall completely submit himself/herself to the authority of the Holy Quran; and shall make the Word of God and the Sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the guiding principle in every walk of his/her life.

     

    1. That he/she shall entirely give up pride and vanity and shall pass all his/her life in humbleness, cheerfulness, forbearance and meekness.

     
    1. That he/she shall hold faith, the honour of faith, and the cause of Islam dearer to him/her than his/her life, wealth, honour, children and all other dear ones.

    1. That he/she shall keep himself/herself occupied in the service of God's creatures for His sake only; and shall endeavour to benefit mankind to the best of his/her God-given abilities and powers.

     

    1. That he/she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything good, for the sake of Allah, and remain faithful to it till the day of his/her death; that he/she shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connections demanding devoted dutifulness.

     
    Performance of Bai’at, the Pledge, at Jalsa Salana in the UK
     

     

    For a video demonstrating those taking the oath of Bai’at at the 2009 Jalsa Salana UK, refer to http://www.youtube.com/user/mtaOnline1#p/search/1/4IpzfUSNOzg

     

    Please go the following link in order to view the words that are used to make the pledge on such an occasion: http://www.alislam.org/introduction/declaration.pdf

     

    In order to understand the conditions of Bai’at, it is strongly recommended that the explanation of the conditions given HadhratMirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (atba) are studied. These have been published in book form, the English translation of which is at the following webpage: http://www.alislam.org/introduction/conditions.pdf

     

     

     

    The event is held at Hadeeqatul Mahdi (Oaklands Farm), Green Street, East Worldham, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3AU. It is a large plot of land just outside of London. There are several buses that transport guests and members from Baitul Futuh and Islamabad. You may need to speak to your local Jama’at President in order to book your place on the buses. It is advisable that you arrange your own transportation as early as possible to avoid disappointment. There is also a special extended train service in operation throughout the auspicious event to Alton railway station.

    For a more detailed explanation of travel arrangements, especially for those travelling by plane, please visit our UK website, specifically the section on the ‘Visitors Information Booklet’ at: http://www.jalsasalana.org/uk/

    The Jalsa Salana UK is normally held on the last weekend of July, but you should keep contact with your local Jama’at President to be sure of the dates as these will be affected by Ramadhan over the next few years.

    For more information, including video and audio clips on Jalsa around the globe please visit the Jalsa Salana website (http://www.jalsasalana.org/) or more specifically to the UK please visit the Jalsa Salana UK website (http://www.jalsasalana.org/uk/)

    Additional Jalsa Salana clips can also be seen on YouTube at the following link and search for Jalsa Salana: http://www.youtube.com/mtaonline1

     

    AIMS ID

    In order to attend the Jalsa Salana, it is essential that all Ahmadis are registered with the Jama’at and have an AIMS ID card. Please contact your local President if you require registration. If you are having difficulty with this process then please contact the MKA Tarbiyyat New Ahmadis department who will endeavour to assist you in this regard at: Email: tarbiyyatnewahmadis@khuddam.org.uk