Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria holds 68th annual Islamic Conference……..It’ll feature special prayer sessions for success of 2023 elections

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria will hold its 68th Annual Islamic Conference, Jalsa Salana, from December 23 to 25 2022, at the Jama’at’s Conference Ground at Jamiatul Mubashireen, Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria.

The 2022 edition of the Jalsa Salana is coming three years after it was last held in 2019 due to the constraints of COVID-19 pandemic, adding that special prayers will be held for the success of the forthcoming elections in Nigeria.

The Amir, (Head) Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, Alhaji Alatoye Folorunso Abdul Azeez, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the weekend, said the three-day event, under the guidance of the World head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, will be chaired by him (Alatoye).

Five lectures are slated for the event by the erudite Islamic scholars. They are: Recognition of Allah: Panacea to the World problems, The Promised Messiah’s Absolute Trust in Divine Help Darsul Qur’an (Growing the Jama’at spiritually and spiritually), Our Paradise is in our God, Hadrat Abdur Rahman bin ‘Auf and Hadrat Maulana Ghulam Rasool Raajiki Sahib: Two pious examples of relationship with Allah Almighty.

There will be academic awards to Ahmadiyya Muslims who distinguished themselves in academics in the last three years from various institutions of higher learning at home and abroad.

Furthermore, in line with the long tradition of the Jama’at in the area of advocacy and promotion of education for all, there will be academic awards to members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria who distinguished themselves in academics in the last three years from various institutions of higher learning at home and abroad.

Other features of the event will include exhibition, solemnization of mass nikah (marriage), and medical outreach, among others.

He disclosed that apart from over 70,000 expected participants at the three-day event, a number of  personalities from various leadership strata of the Nigerian society, including political, religious, traditional, and other leaders are expected to grace the historic event.

The Amir explained that “the holding of Jalsa Salana is a long tradition within the fold of Ahmadiyya that dates back to December, 1892 when the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) held the first ever annual conference.

 “Since then, it has become an annual tradition across the over 200 countries and territories where the Jama’at has been established. Declaring the fundamental purpose of Jalsa Salana, He (as) stated in a published announcement that: “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 may progress”.

Among its secondary benefits, Alatoye continued, “is that this congregational meeting together will promote mutual introduction among all brothers, and it will strengthen the fraternal ties within this community…

“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 (saw) at every step of their way, and no labour and hardship undertaken in His way ever goes to waste.

“I reemphasize 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, Majmū’ah Ishtiharāt, vol.1, page 341)”.

He further said “the holding of this annual conference is in line with the Qur’anic imperative declaration that: “There is no good in many of their conferences except the conferences of such as enjoin charity, or goodness, or making of peace among men. And whoso does that, seeking the pleasure of Allah, We shall soon bestow on him a great reward.” (Qur’an, 4:115).

“In conclusion, no better way to close this address other than the same way the Holy Founder of the Jama’at (as) has concluded his announcement on the first Jalsa Salana, saying that “I conclude with the prayer that everyone who travels for (attending) this Conference 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….”, Amir Alatoye stated..

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