More than 33,000 Muslims from over 90 countries around the world converged in Hampshire in the UK during the last weekend of August to reaffirm their commitment to upholding the pristine teachings of Islam.

This unique convention organised annually by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is known as the Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention).

The UK Jalsa Salana has the distinction of being the oldest and largest Muslim gathering in the UK and one of the largest in the world.

Muslims from countries as diverse as Guatemala, Mauritius, Turkmenistan and Bermuda joined this three-day convention. This year’s convention was quite special as it marks the 125th anniversary of the Community, founded under divine guidance in 1889 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, India.

He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days and the awaited one of the world’s religions whose advent was foretold by the Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (pbuh) and the holy scriptures of major religions, including the Holy Bible and Holy Koran.

The convention was attended by a number of non-Muslim guests and dignitaries from around the world, who highly praised the peaceful atmosphere reigning during the convention despite the large number of people.

They further praised the humanitarian work being carried out by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in various parts of the world and the Community’s commitment to promoting tolerance and respect for the religious freedom of people from all faiths and backgrounds.

Interviews with non-Muslim dignitaries attending the convention can be viewed on YouTube under ‘Interviews with dignitaries at Jalsa Salana UK 2014’ and ‘UK Jalsa Salana 2014: Address — Distinguished Guests’.

The highlights of the convention were the addresses by His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Khalifa (Spiritual Head) of the worldwide Community.

His Holiness addressed the audience on fundamental Islamic issues including the unity of God, strong family values, the blessed model of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as mercy for mankind and the importance of believing in the Messiah (as) of the latter days.

His Holiness further counselled the participants and Muslims in general, regarding the need for peace in today’s world and denounced in strong terms the extremists, including the so-called ‘Islamic State’, who have ignored Islam’s true teachings of peace and tolerance for all faiths and are instead spreading terror and hatred.

His Holiness explained at length how the actions of the extremists were completely opposite to the teachings and practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The message of peace of His Holiness has, in the past few years, reached many distinguished audiences and he has spoken at the US Congress on Capitol Hill, the European Parliament, and in the British House of Commons.

On the last day of the convention, His Holiness led the Annual International Ba’yah Ceremony, which is an oath of allegiance to His Holiness. The members of the Community pledged to abide by the pristine and peaceful message of Islam and to spread the message of Islam by winning hearts and minds.

Millions of members of the Community from more than 200 countries around the world joined the ceremony live through TV coverage by the Community’s own satellite channel, MTA (www.mta.tv).

On Sunday, the participants parted ways, saddened to see the convention coming to an end, but spiritually revived.

Submitted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Bermuda (alislam.bermuda @gmail.com)