My Jalsa Salana UK 2021 Experience | Hamooda Arif

How to choose good company

It is important to make good choices for oneself when it comes to choosing who to spend your time with. This does not mean we should be judgemental of others; we must always be polite and respectful to everyone. However, we can choose to distance ourselves from people who could have a bad influence on us. Here is a quiz you can play to help you make the right choice!

START

Does your friend always tell the truth and encourage you to do the same?

NO

Keep your distance from this person!

YES

NO

Is your friend supportive of your religious beliefs and personal decisions?

YES

Does your friend peer pressure you or others to do things you do not want to ?

YES

NO

Does your friend speak to everyone in a respectful manner?

NO YES NO

Is your friend kind and caring to others?

NO

Does your friend avoid gossiping and arguing with others?

YES

YES

It is best to limit your time with this person A good friend choice!

Find the word in the puzzle. Words can go in any direction. Words can share letters as they cross over each other.

Blessings Friendship Hasana Istighfar Kindness Morals Piety Positivity Truthfulness

MY JALSA SALANA UK 2021 EXPERIENCE

Hamooda Arif

Jalsa Salana is an important event in the Ahmadi Muslim Community calendar. No matter what part of the world you are from, there the is a Jalsa Salana held every year to bring community together to rejuvenate faith and unity within the community.

The Promised Messiahas says:

“The primary purpose of this Convention is to enable every sincere individual to personally experience religious benefits; They may enhance their knowledge and – due to their being blessed and enabled by Allah, The Exalted – their perception [of Allah] may progress. Among its secondary benefits is that this congregational meeting together will promote mutual introduction among all brothers, and it will strengthen the fraternal ties within this Community.”

(Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 340)

The Promised Messiahas highlighted the importance of attending Jalsa Salana:

“It is essential for all those who can afford to undertake the journey, that they must come to attend this Convention which embodies many blessed objectives. They should disregard minor inconveniences in the cause of Allah and His prophet (peace be upon him.). Allah yields reward to the sincere persons at every step of their way, and no labour and hardship, undertaken in His way, ever goes to waste. I re-emphasize that you must not rank this convention in the same

league as other, ordinary, human assemblies. This is a phenomenon that is based purely on the Divine Help, for propagation of Islam.”

(Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo`ah Ishtiharat Vol. I, Page 340)

Jalsa Salana UK has become an International Jalsa. As Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih VMay Allah be his helper resides here, each year tens of thousands of people travel from all over the world to partake in this blessed event.

However, for over two years, the world has been greatly impacted by the Covid pandemic, which has put a halt to many worldly activities. Jamaati activities have carried on but everything had to be moved online, with meetings and events being held virtually. So, when it was announced that Jalsa Salana UK was going to be held, albeit on a much smaller scale, it was a breath of fresh air! There are over 30,000 Ahmadis in the UK, so it would have been logistically impossible to accommodate such a large attendance in the current Covid climate. So, a registration system was put in place, providing you met the age criterion and were fully vaccinated, along with other clauses, one could register to attend the event. Names were then drawn out randomly and invitations were sent out which would allow entry to Jalsa Salana UK. Members were allowed to attend 1 out of 3 days, unless they were on duty, in which case they would be allowed to attend all 3 days.

As the summer holidays had started, my husband and I, along with our two children, made the 4.5hour journey from our home in Yorkshire down to the south of the country to my parents’ house, which is a mere 15 minutes from Hadeeqatul Mahdi.

I continued to pray leading up to the Jalsa Salana weekend, ready to accept whatever the outcome may be. To the last moment, I was unsure of whether I would be able to attend Jalsa in person. I knew that I would be ‘on duty’ but it would most probably be off-site, working from home. I was still looking forward to it, as any opportunity to be a part of this event would be a blessing.

However, my Nazima called to confirm that I would in fact be on duty on site, all 3 days of Jalsa Salana, as part of a very humble 3-member Lajna team for The Review of Religions. I was overjoyed and felt so humbled in that moment. I was not only going to be able to attend Jalsa Salana but I would be attending all 3 days! Alhamdolilah. Then suddenly, I came to the realisation – I will be able to see Hazuraba and offer prayers behind my beloved after almost 18 months. I could not contain my excitement!

JALSA SALANA UK 2021: INSPECTION

The inspection Ceremony of Jalsa Salana UK was to be held on Thursday, a day before Jalsa Salana was to commence. On Thursday morning, as my mother, father, husband, brothers were getting ready to attend the inspection, I was getting ready to work from home and help out with Jalsa work for The Review of Religions website. We had been very busy and things were only going to get busier. I then received another call from my Nazima, asking me to attend the inspection ceremony! I could not believe it! I would be seeing Hazuraba a day before I initially thought!

My dear sister-in-law and sister helped with taking care of my children and in no time, I was ready to go to Hadeeqatul Mahdi. This year the checklist to ensure we were Jalsa-ready was slightly different: daily NHS lateral flow tests, Covid vaccine passport, masks, wellies, raincoat!

I arrived at Hadeeqatul Mahdi earlier than I needed to be there but I could not wait! It was a beautiful, bright sunny August day (that would soon change to torrential downpour) and a smile was permanently affixed on my face, despite my mask covering it. I stepped out of the car, welly and rain jacket-clad, obviously, and stood atop the Hadeeqatul Mahdi hill and saw 'Tent City' before me. Alhamdolilah. What a site Masha'Allah.

A series of checks followed, which included Covid test results, vaccination passports, temperature, AIMS ID, security before I was allowed through to the Lajna Jalsa Site.

Again, I stopped to take it all in. The wet mud, the erected white marquees, the banners welcoming Jalsa guests, Covid safety reminders. It was smaller than our normal Jalsa but after being deprived of this for the last two years, it was nothing short of perfect.

I took out my phone and got started on work immediately, taking videos and pictures. My duty was to report everything I could from the Lajna site for readers at home. I bumped into many familiar faces on my way to the Lajna Jalsa Gah. What I noticed was despite not being particularly close to these sisters, it was so comforting seeing them, saying salaam, talking to them, ensuring they and their families were healthy and well.

I started approaching sisters on duty and interviewing them about their roles and their emotions on being able to serve and attend Jalsa

this year. The consensus was that all of them felt fortunate and humbled by the opportunity to serve and attend this ‘special Jalsa’ and were all eagerly waiting to see Hazur-e-Aqdasaba .

Soon, Zuhr time approached and we took our places for namaz, abiding by social distancing guidelines. Suddenly, a voice was heard through the microphone. It was Hazur’saba voice! We all looked around in disbelief and shock and soon it was clear that not many Lajna knew that Hazuraba would be leading the prayers. The atmosphere within the marquee changed. Everyone was tearyeyed and a sudden silence fell in the Jalsa Gah. Hazuraba did in fact lead the Zuhr and Asr prayers. It was a truly emotional and spiritually cleansing experience. My heart felt like it had been carrying a burden for months and suddenly it felt lighter, cleaner. Each and every rakaat lead by Hazuraba served as a balm, healing us of the cruel deprivation of 18 months! I remember praying: Oh Allah, please never let me forget this moment, this feeling. During namaz, I kept thinking about the countless Ahmadis around the world, who have never had this opportunity before. Who have never even seen Hazuraba . My yearning surely did not compare to theirs! I felt overwhelmed. I prayed for them. I promised to never take the opportunity of praying behind Hazuraba for granted. It was a huge blessing and we should count ourselves extremely fortunate to experience this. I grew up in London, around the Fazl Mosque area and our whole life revolved around the Jama’at and the mosque. We would spend so much of our time at the mosque, it was almost like an extension to our home. In that moment, after almost two years away, I felt like I was home. Our spiritual Father had united us in person, once again.

After namaz, I looked around the Lajna Jalsa Gah, without exchanging a single word, we all felt the same way. This was surely no ordinary event! And how very fortunate I was to be part of a workforce who would be hosting the guests of the Promised Messiahas from the next day. It was truly a humbling feeling. Alhamdolilah.

Soon, the Inspection ceremony commenced and Hazuraba spoke to the duty holders about their roles and responsibilities. Great emphasis was put on cleanliness and hygiene due to Covid guidelines, plus the worsening weather, which would bring with it more challenges. Hazur’saba words served as a booster, recharged us and cleared us of the rust that had been accumulating for the last 2 years. By the Grace of God, we were ready to host the guests of the Promised Messiahas at Jalsa Salana UK.

JALSA SALANA UK 2021: DAY 1

Day 1 started on a sunny note, which made trudging through the soft mud all the more fun in Hadeeqatul Mahdi. Each and every volunteer and attendee had a smile on their face, and although it was covered by their mask, it was evident through the sparkle in their eyes.

During the Friday sermon Hazuraba reminded attendees and duty holders of their responsibilities during Jalsa Salana. The Juma prayers, were again, an emotional affair. Those that were not on duty and did not attend the inspection the day before, experienced the same spiritually uplifting feeling of offering prayers behind their beloved Imam. It had clearly been a long few months for everyone!

This was followed by the flag hoisting ceremony by Hazuraba which marked the official inauguration of Jalsa Salana UK.

Lunch followed and I can say for sure, alu gosht had been sorely missed and each attendee enjoyed every morsel of the langar of the Promised Messiahas . Alhamdolilah.