Ahmadis arrive in India for 121st annual convention

AMRITSAR: Ahmadiyya’s from across the world including Pakistan would converge at Qadian in Gurdaspur district to participate in the three day 121st Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat, India beginning on December 29th.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community within Islam was founded in 1889 and spans over 250 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions having current headquarters in UK, informed Secretary Press Committee, Sheikh Mujahid Ahmad .

Notably In Pakistan Ahmadiyya’s have been declared as non Muslims, they are not allowed to call their places of worship as mosque, give azan and are subjected to severe punishments if they call themselves Muslim. The community has been raising their voice at international level against the alleged brutality of Pakistan government towards them.

He informed that it was the only Islamic organization to endorse a separation of mosque and state. “Over a century ago, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad , founder of Ahmadiyya sect, taught his followers to protect the sanctity of both religion and government by becoming righteous souls as well as loyal citizens” he said. Deputy Secretary Maqbool Ahmad said that the aim of the gathering was that the members of the Jamaat should be able to derive religious benefits and at the same time they should acquire more of the knowledge and advance in their realization of God.

Another aim of the Convention, Maqbool informed was to promote peace in the world, to project the pristine teachings of Islam and to promote the bond between human beings and Allah. Likewise safeguarding the rights of women, guaranteeing the human rights, controlling the rise of ‘fundamentalism’ and so on will also be deliberated in the convention in the light of the time-invariant lofty Islamic teachings.

Various departments of the Jama’at Ahmadiyya have already become active to provide security, boarding and lodging, medical facilities and other such services to the guests. On December 30th convention will be celebrated as All Religions’ Day when scholars from different religions and faiths will give discourses on peace and brotherhood from their respective scriptures.