• Published: Jul. 13, 2023, 4:07 p.m.

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• Jimmie Brown | jbrown2@pennlive.com

A Muslim group that has held its annual convention in Harrisburg for more than a decade on Thursday launched “Jalsa Cares,” aimed at giving back to its host city with a series of service projects.City leaders partnered with members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA to facilitate the service projects one day before the 73rd annual Jalsa Salana, the nation’s oldest Muslim convention, gets underway at the state Farm Show complex.

Organizers say the convention is expected to draw 9,000 to 10,000 people to Harrisburg.Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spokesman Momin Bhatti said the effort was especially important in the wake of the devastating fire that destroyed a portion of the Broad Street Market, one of the city’s most historic landmarks, Monday morning.“Jalsa Cares seeks to promote the spirit of united service for the city of Harrisburg,” he said.As part of Jalsa Cares, volunteers gave back by feeding the hungry, donating blood, and conduct a neighborhood clean-up. They worked hand-in-hand with Downtown Daily Bread, the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness, and Harrisburg’s public work’s organization to ensure a day of servicing in a variety of ways.

The Ahmadiyya are a sect of Islam that differs from Sunnis and Shias in some basic beliefs. Ahmadiyya Muslims believe the messiah has already come, in the person of their founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, of India, who lived from 1835 to 1908. This has made them targets of extremists who consider them heretics.For the past 72 years, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has held an annual “Jalsa Salana” in the United States to renew their commitment to peace and to advancing human rights around the world. This year’s convention will take place from Friday through Sunday at the Farm Show building.

source https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/city-leaders-join-ahmadi-muslims-in-service-to-harrisburg.html