Jalsa salana Qadian (Annual Convention Qadian)
Background:
In 1891, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (as) laid foundation of the Jalsa Salana system in the Jama ‘a t. The first Jalsa Salana was held in 1891 at Masjid Aqsa in Qadian. In this Jalsa only 75 members participated. The second Jalsa Salana was held on December 27, 1892 and the total attendance of this convention was
around 500.
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi said about the first Jalsa Salana:
"All friends should make it a point to reach on this date for the sake of God to listen to His words and to participate in prayer. Such truths and words of wisdom shall be heard as are essential for the increase of faith, conviction, and knowledge. Such friends will also be entitled to special prayers and special attention. Efforts will be made before the most Merciful Lord that He may draw them towards Himself and accept them and grant them a change for the better. A secondary advantage of such gathering will be that every year when they come to Qadian on the appointed dates, they will see and meet newcomers into the fold and this personal acquaintance will continually develop into close friendship and love. ... And effort will be made through prayers to create a bond of spiritual union between all and remove every barrier of estrangement, aloofness and difference."
Objectives:
It was during the first Jalsa Salana that the objectives of this gathering were defined which among others were:
1. To Propagate Islam.
2. To think out ways and means of promoting the welfare of new converts to Islam in Europe and
America.
3. To further the cause of righteousness, goodwill, purity, piety and moral excellence throughout the
world.
4. To eradicate evil habits and customs.
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi (as) further said about the Jalsa Salana:
"I should like to repeat that this Convention must not be taken like other ordinary gatherings, for unlike them, it has been based on the succor of God."
This Jalsa Salana became the beginning of a World-wide system of holding Jalsa Salana every year. Today, these Jalsa Salana are held all over the world. The Jalsa Salana held at a place where the Khalifah resides becomes an international Jalsa Salana as Ahmadis from all over the world come to attend that Jalsa . In Pakistan, the first Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) was held in Lahore on December 27-28, 1947. In Rabwah, the first J alsa Salana was held on April 15-17, 1949. In the last Jalsa Salana held at Rabwah Pakistan in 1984, more than 250,000 Ahmadis and non-Ahmadi guests participated.
With the Grace of Allah In Qadian ( the permanent head quarter of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at) , every year Jalsa Salana is being organized. On the occasion of 100 years Jalsa Celerebration at Qadian, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra) himself travelleed to Qadian and blessed this occasion. In 2005 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V (ata)) had also blessed Jalsa Salana Qadian.
These are signs of the everlasting success of the institution founded by the very Hand of Alla− h. The Convention will no doubt grow to even greater dimensions in the future, and all those who attend will have the good fortune of being the recipients of the following prayer of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (a s):
"May God Almighty be with everyone who sets out to attend this gathering which is held for the sake of Alla− h alone. May He bestow upon them a great reward and have mercy on them and resolve their difficulties and remove their anxieties and griefs and sorrows, and may He deliver them from every misfortune and open the way of success for their endeavors. May He, on the Day of Judgement, raise them among such of His servants who are recipients of His Grace and Mercy and may He be the Guardian of their dependents in their absence.
'O God! Lord of Honor and Beneficence, Merciful Deliverer from trials, do Thou accept all these supplications and bestow Supremacy upon us with Thy bright signs, for Thou possesseth all Power and Strength.' −Amin ."
(Review of Religions, Vol. LXXXVI, No. 7, July 1991, pp 8-10; The Ahmadiyya Gazette, Canada, June 1991, p 60))
(Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, The True Islam pp 401-402)
Jalsa Salana Qadian Links
Jalsa Salana Dates Dec 26-28
Jalsa Salana Qadian Direct link
Jasla Salana Qadian Pictures Link
