WORLD30/07/2023

By Nation World News Desk

By: Infobay

Over the past three days, more than 40,000 Muslims from more than 100 countries around the world have gathered in Alton, Hampshire, the heart of Britain, for the annual Jalsa Salana convention. From 28 to 30 July, the conference – the largest and most important of its kind in Western Europe – reverberated with a spirit of unity and spiritual uplift.

Jalsa is not an annual gathering. Organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, it has become a notable platform for promoting peace, brotherhood and understanding. To say that it is the center of spiritual development of the community would not be an exaggeration.

Imam Marwan Gil, president of Argentina’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community, summed it up: “The main purpose of this meeting is to promote peace and universal brotherhood. It is a very auspicious occasion for the community members as we can pray with our spiritual leader and listen to his speeches which help us to improve our spirituality and morals. Imam Gill underlined the conference’s commitment to religious freedom and dialogue. “We strongly believe in religious freedom and believe that mutual respect and dialogue are the backbone of building a pluralistic and open society. The goal of our conference is to help non-Muslims and guests from around the world understand firsthand the values ​​of our faith,” he said.

The keynote speaker of the conference, Khalifa Mirza Masroor Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community enthralled the audience with his keynote address. His poignant words were based on current world events, particularly focusing on the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the urgent need for peace and diplomacy in these volatile times. But this convention was much more than just a platform for speeches. It was a vibrant tapestry of diverse personalities from all corners of the planet. Among the attendees were special guests from over a hundred countries: civil servants, diplomats, academics, journalists and citizens. Among them, notable was the presence of the Argentine delegation, which arrived with the Argentine Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Javier Figueroa.

The voices of the attendees echoed the feelings of unity and peace promoted by the conference itself. Sarah Ward, a 43-year-old primary school teacher from Kingston, south-west London, shared her thoughts on the event in The Independent: “We are all different, but we come together as a community under the spiritual guidance of our caliph Are.” , It is great to see the diversity of the Muslim community and the unity that this conference promotes.

For Faraz Ahmed, a 19-year-old law student from Bradford, the conference had a deeper meaning. He pointed to the importance of the meeting to dispel stereotypes about Islam to the British media, telling: “If people come here and experience what real Islam is like, that’s the only way the story will change. We have to show that Islam is peace, brotherhood and spirituality.”

Apart from speeches and individual reflections, the conference was also an impressive cultural display. From food to clothing to literature, attendees enjoyed an immersive experience that highlighted the rich tapestry of the Muslim community around the world.

In a world full of conflicts, encounters like Jalsa Salana offer an encouraging glimpse of what might be. At its core, the conference shone as a symbol of peace, brotherhood and mutual respect, paving the way towards a more inclusive and harmonious world. A path that requires dialogue, understanding and, above all, a shared commitment to build bridges, not walls.

source https://nationworldnews.com/muslims-from-100-countries-of-the-world-gather-in-britain-to-promote-peace-and-universal-brotherhood/