True meaning of Islam to be showcased at major UK convention
A photo from the 2018 convention.
Jalsa Salana, the UK’s biggest convention of Muslims, will take place on August 2-4 to showcase what true Islam is and challenge the most common misconceptions around the religion.
35,000 people from over 100 countries will descend on a 200-acre farm in Hampshire, which will be converted into a mini-village for the three days.
It’s being organised by 7,000 male and female volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, who will also help run an on-site bread factory that will produce 300,000 pieces of roti and naan bread to feed the festival-goers, at an impressive rate of 10,000 an hour.
There will also be a range of South Asian and European cuisine on offer.
Farhad Ahmed from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is inviting people from all cultures to visit the farm and ‘find out if Islam is a religion of peace or not.’
‘Often people have questions about Islam,’ he said.
‘Many know about those who have travelled to Syria to join the so-called and wrongful Caliphate of Isis.
‘However, very few are aware of the true peaceful Caliphate here in the British countryside, which is taking a pledge of allegiance only for people to follow the true peaceful message of Islam.’
‘So on 4 August, the last of the three-day convention, the biggest moment in the event takes place.
‘35,000 plus people will form a massive human chain leading to the hand of the Caliph whilst pledging in unison to follow the true peaceful message of Islam under the leadership of the Caliph, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.’
Read more about the convention here.
Last year, NewStart spoke to Farhad about how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association raises thousands every year for the Poppy Appeal.
‘The main reason we raise funds is for the servicemen who gave their lives for the defence of our country. If we are ever in any difficulty it would be their requirement to help us,’ he said.
‘It’s a show of our gratitude. Charity is blind and we help anybody whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.’
I hope this will be a very blessed event and will also be able to help many by clearing misconceptions. Recently Jalsa Salana Convention was held in Canada and in Germany and they were also very blessed events. Those who will be going to this convention, I hope they leave without misconceptions and accept that Islam is a religion of only peace.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat holds these conventions all over the world. Recently having had Jalsa Salana Germany, Canada and USA. Now the upcoming one being Jalsa Salana UK.
The Promised Messiah (as) said that the purpose of Jalsa Salana is:
“ 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..”