By Aleem Zia

The success and progress of any group, event or nation can be measured by the standard of their hygiene. Naturally, more successful companies and nations will have a higher standard of hygiene as opposed to less developed and not so progressive companies and nations. Likewise, the standard of hygiene at the Jalsa Salana UK is exemplary. Volunteers work tirelessly, day and night, to ensure that the Jalsa site remains immaculate. This includes the hygiene of all the different venues associated with the Jalsa like Baitul Futuh Mosque, Fazl Mosque, Islamabad, Jamia Ahmadiyya UK and then Hadiqatul Mahdi itself. From the carpark, scanning areas, exhibitions, bazaar [market] all the way down to the hygiene in the toilets. Volunteers sacrifice their Jalsa to serve the guests of the Promised Messiah (as) and make sure that all their needs are met.

This spirit of cleanliness is immersed within Ahmadi Muslims from a very young age. This is because Islam strongly encourages one to keep themselves and their environment clean. In the Holy Qur’an it states:

اِنَّ الله یُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِیْنَ وَیُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَھِّرِیْنَ

“Allah loves those who turn to Him and loves those who keep themselves clean”

(Holy Qur’an 2:223)

This verse of the Holy Qur’an leaves no doubt in the mind of one who reads it on how to become the beloved of Allah the Almighty. The purpose of the Jalsa is to gain the satisfaction of Allah the Almighty through spiritual blessings. What better way to achieve this then by the way Allah Himself has taught us in His holy book.

In a Hadith from Tirmidhi, it states:

اِنَّ الله طَیِّب یُحِبُّ الطَیِّبَ، نَظِیْف یُحِبُّ النَّظَافَةَ

“Indeed Allah is Tayyib (good) and He loves Tayyib (what is good), and He is Nazif (clean) and He loves cleanliness.”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith 2799)

Similarly, in a Hadith from Sahih Muslim, it states that “cleanliness is half of faith”. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 223)

These are teachings which are ingrained in a Muslim from a very young age. A Muslim grows up learning the importance of cleanliness and how much Allah the Almighty loves those who keep themselves clean. This spirit of cleanliness is carried out at the Jalsa too. Whether it is someone’s duty to help keep the Jalsa site clean or not, all the attendees play their role to ensure this aspect of the Jalsa is fully taken care of so that they can gain maximum blessings.