More than 33,000 people attend and 97 countries represented

The 48^th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK concluded on Sunday 31^st August 2014 with a faith inspiring address by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.

This year more than 33,000 people attended the Jalsa Salana from 97 countries. Apart from the thousands of Ahmadi Muslims who attended, many non-Ahmadi and non-Muslim guests also came to attend the event.

One of the highlights of the Jalsa Salana was the pledge of allegiance, known as Bai’at that took place on Sunday afternoon where the participants pledged allegiance to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad as the Khalifa (Caliph) of the Promised Messiah. The participants formed a human chain leading to the Khalifa as they repeated the words of the pledge in unison.

Prior to the ceremony, His Holiness announced that more than 550,000 people had joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community during the past year.

In his concluding address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad spoke of how the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, who was the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, came to re-establish the peaceful and original teachings of Islam.

The Promised Messiah taught that God was One and that Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the final law-bearing Prophet who came with a universal teaching for all of mankind.

During the Jalsa Salana, His Holiness said that in today’s world many false allegations were levelled against the Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

His Holiness said that all such allegations were completely false and that in reality the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was a mercy for all of mankind who came to spread love and compassion for all people, for all times.

The Jalsa Salana concluded with a silent prayer led by His Holiness in which he asked the Ahmadi Muslims to pray for peace in the world and for the Muslim world to be rightly guided towards Islam’s original teachings and for all violence and cruelties to end.

His Holiness particularly prayed for the innocent victims of the recent war in Gaza.

The Jalsa Salana took place at a 200 acre farm in Alton, Hampshire known as ‘Hadeeqatul Mahdi’.

Apart from the 5 addresses delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, various other speakers and scholars took to the stage during the course of the 3 day event.

Various exhibitions were also on display, including a photographic exhibition documenting the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and a human rights exhibition.