By Aleem Zia
The Jalsa Salana is an annual event which is run entirely by volunteers. People of different ages, men and women, take time out of their busy worldly lives, weeks in advance prior to the Jalsa to play their role in making it a success. They put their worldly engagements on hold for the sole purpose of achieving the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. People voluntarily help out in the initial set up of the Jalsa site as well as the administrative aspect, maintaining hygiene, security, food, transport etc. Along with the spiritual blessings, the volunteers gain satisfaction in serving the guests of the Promised Messiah (as).
This spirit of volunteering stems back to the time of the Holy Prophet (sa). During the battle of the Ditch, the companions came into the field of battle dressed as labourers. The companions faced great hardships in order to help dig the ditch alongside the Holy Prophet (sa). Certain men would dig, others would fill this excavated earth and stones in baskets, carry it on their shoulders and throw it away.
In his Friday sermon on the 14th October 2016 Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (aba) stated that:
“We don’t have experts with professional skills for all the departments who can produce the best quality in all the departments. We have volunteers from among Khuddam, Atfal, Ansar, Lajna and Nasirat also. Among them officers are appointed and subordinates are also appointed.”
Huzoor (aba) further highlighted the fact that during these three days especially, worldly thinking disappears from the workers and they only focus on Jalsa and selfless work. Hence, it is not a human hand which converts the thinking into such a scope which gives actions a selflessness and humility. It is solely a Grace of God Almighty.
