By Aleem Zia
The Jalsa Salana of the United Kingdom is that international Jalsa which is graced by the presence of guests from all across the world. Unlike other Jalsas which are specific to the country they are held in, the UK Jalsa is for guests from all across the world because this is where the Khalifa of the time resides. As a result of this, guests which include Ahmadis, non-Ahmadis and dignitaries attend from all across the world. They are hosted by the UK Jama’at and all their needs are attended to. The attendance of the Jalsa Salana UK of 2019 was 39,829. This included guest representation from 115 different countries. This was an increase of 1,300 people from the previous year and included a male attendance of 21,332 and female attendance of 18,479.
This Jalsa is another sign of the truthfulness of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as it fulfils yet another revelation which the Promised Messiah (as) received over 150 years ago. In 1868 or 1869, God Almighty revealed to the Promised Messiah (as) that:
‘Your God is well pleased with what you have done. He will bless you greatly, so much so that Kings will seek blessings from your garments.’
(Barahin-e-Ahmadiyyah, part 4, pp. 520–521 sub-footnote 3)
This seemed a strange revelation at the time–why would kings seek blessings from the clothes of someone hardly known outside this small remote village in India? But, history bears witness, that this revelation became reality, as the legacy of the Promised Messiah(as) unfolded and reached people from all over the world, from all walks of life, rich and poor, till today. Similarly, this prophecy was made reality by the attendance of dignitaries, special delegates and even kings from various nations across the world at the Jalsa.
Similarly, in 1883, the following revelation was published in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya part III:
یَاْتِیْکَ مِنْ کُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِیْقٍ
‘People and gifts will come to you from the far flung places of the world.’
(Barahin e Ahmadiyya Part III, pg. 241)
We see today that this revelation has been fulfilled to the letter and the Jalsa Salana plays a huge role in its fulfilment. Huzoor (aba) meets a copious amount of people from different nations during the Jalsa and his tasks increase manifold. Even then, Huzoor (aba) does not tire because ultimately, Huzoor (aba) is being divinely guided by Allah the Almighty.
This idea of respecting the guests and dignitaries that visit you stems back to the teaching of the Holy Prophet (sa). In a Hadith from Ibn Majah, it states:
اِذَا اَتَاکُم کَرِیْمُ قَوْمٍ فَاکْرِمُوْہُ
“When the leaders of a people pay you a visit, show them due respect.”
(40 Gems of Beauty, pg. 145, Hadith 33)
These are the teachings that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at follows and acts upon and these are the true Islamic teachings.
