Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at!

Society Religion & Philosophy
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I see a new thread starting about Ahmadiyyat every week, and after reading them it’s pretty clear how many misconceptions people have about Ahmadis and their beliefs. Being a fervent follower of religious studies and frequent participant in gatherings & lectures of different faiths, I have firm belief that only by first hand experience of other people’s religious ceremonies, one can understand & can acquire first hand knowledge about their beliefs.

Ahmadiyya community around the globe have a tradition of holding monthly and annual meetings that are focused on broad issues from Sirat-un-Nabi :saw: to many social & cultural issues facing the community. The annual meeting is called “Jalsa Salana” and is held by all national chapters, from Indonesia to USA. All these gatherings are open to public, actually members are encouraged to ask friends & acquaintances to come attend. The activities are focused around speeches by scholars and sometimes have a Question and Answer session!

Anyway, if you are interested to get to the bottom of Ahmadiyya beliefs, which seems to be the case considering the over zealous replies in all the 10 different threads opened in the past couple of weeks, I suggest that you make a point to attend one of these meetings. If you need information about local chapters in your area, I am sure many on these boards can help you find one. But just as a point of reference, following are the dates & place for Jalsa Salana in US, Canada & UK. (considering the fact most guppies are from these countries):

USA -
June 27th, 28th & 29th
15000 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905
More information at http://www.ahmadiyya.us

Canada -
July 4th, 5th & 6th,
2003 at the International Center, Mississauga, Ontario.
More information at http://www.ahmadiyya.ca/

United Kingdom
July 25th, 26th & 27th
Islamabad, Tilford, Surrey

**If you have any questions regarding these meetings, exact addresses, contact information, agenda etc. please feel free to ask. Otherwise if you are interesting in discussing Ahmadiyya beliefs, I am sure you will find plenty of opportunity to do so in numerous other threads. **

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Are external Links allowed Mr. Mod for advertisement ?

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Aawara Baadal: *
**Are external Links allowed Mr. Mod for advertisement ?
[/QUOTE]
*

:) Or Ms. Mod. In the past there have been plenty of links posted in this Forum regarding upcoming religious events - in the majority of cases, their links are always posted. Those cases have almost always been permitted - why not this? As AhmadJee has stated, if anyone is interested in attending this conference, feel free to ask him. If not, then don't - simple as that :)

-- Samarra.

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Here is a little news article I could find on the web for Canada Jalsa.

Ahmadiyya event draws in 12,000

Annual convention a reunion for members of Muslim sect
Fun and food blend with serious discussion of issues in the faith

LESLIE SCRIVENER
FAITH AND ETHICS REPORTER

Though they no longer meet in striped tents in the fields behind their mosque in Maple, thousands of Ahmadiyya Muslims are gathering this weekend for their annual convention.

They will discuss their past — the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings about relations with non-Muslims. They’ll look at present controversies — their view of same-sex marriages in Canada. And they will look to the future — revealing their 10-year-plan for developing the 10 hectaresbehind the Bai’tul Islam mosque, the centre of their community, north of Major Mackenzie Dr.

The subtext of all Ahmadiyya gatherings is the state-approved persecution and discrimination they endure in Pakistan, where the missionary movement has been declared non-Muslim by the religious and political elite.

About 12,000 are expected at the three-day jalsa, which continues today and tomorrow, held for the second year at the International Centre in Mississauga. Meeting in one large area is more convenient than setting up vast tents in Maple as they did previously.

Between the scholarly discussions, families reunite, kin from across North America become reacquainted and pray together, and everyone eats. Feeding such numbers requires military-style order. One meal takes 450 kilograms of rice, 725 kilograms of beef for curry and 360 kilograms of potatoes.

Supervisor Aziz Ullah said volunteer cooks started preparation at 4 a.m. yesterday. They had 100 burners going at the kitchens in Maple and an army of trucks to transport the food.

“Everything has been volunteered — the trucks, the water, the tea supply for 24 hours — and everything is huge. Huge,” Ullah said.

Naseem Mahdi, amir and missionary in charge of Canada’s Ahmadiyya community, said yesterday there’s no need to redefine marriage, as proposed in legislation allowing same-sex marriages. “We are supporting the traditional way and the family values in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”

Other topics range from the abstract — predestination and free will — to the ethical and scientific. Syed Muhammad Aslam Daud, the movement’s general secretary, will discuss genetic engineering from an Islamic perspective.

Plans for the Maple site include a library, studio space for Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, seniors’ housing, a community centre and residences for staff, said Ijaz Qamar, a volunteer.

The first Ahmadiyya training college for missionaries will open this September in Windsor, with 25 students.

Ahmadiyya conventions have been held regularly since the first in 1891, in Qadian, Punjab, and now occur in 150 countries. Politicians, including Liberal leadership candidate Paul Martin, will address the gathering.

Sunday has been declared Muslim Family Day at Canada’s Wonderland.