Times of Ahmad: AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY - USA: A HISTORIC OVERVIEW OF THE WEST COAST JALSA SALANA

"In our First Jalsa in 1982, we heard Live Audio Message of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV, ^rh when he launched the blessed scheme of five new Mosques for USA." Anwer M. Khan

Qadian, India - The birthplace of the institution of Jalsa Salana

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | References
Source & Credit: Ahmadiyya Gazette | 1998
By Anwer Mahmood Khan | Updated 2009

1891 marks the year of the establishment of the institution of Jalsa Salana [annual convention] by the Holy Founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as of Qadian, India. In the first gathering 75 people participated. Now twelve decades later over 75 nations of the world organize Jalsa Salana, attended by millions of people.

1983 - The last Jalsa Salana in Rabwah, Pakistan

In the last Jalsa held in Rabwah, Pakistan, 183,000 people were in attendance. After that year till now, Government of Pakistan does not give permission to hold Jalsa Salana. The opponents had thought that they have broken the backbone of this institution. Hardly they know that the Divine plans cannot be frustrated by any or all of the human minds put together. As a result, every year now the scenes of the Rabwah and Qadian Jalsa Salana are being replicated in 75 countries of the world and new countries and locales are joining the institution each year.

1947 - The first Jalsa Salana in Dayton, OH

In USA, we have been successfully organizing these gatherings for the last 61 years. In USA, the first Jalsa was held in 1947 in Dayton Ohio. Due to the sheer size of the continental United States, many Ahmedi Muslims living in the West Coast were not always able to participate in our National Jalsa Salana. In order to address this situation, at the request of Jama’at Los Angeles, Maulana Ataullah Kaleem, then Amir Jam’at USA gave permission to hold the West Coast Jalsa Salana to Missionary Mir Mahmood Ahmad Nasir. In 1982, the very first Jalsa Salana of West Coast was held at Masonic lodge in San Francisco. Interestingly enough, the number of attendees at this convention totaled 75.

Prior to 1990, these conventions were held at various rented facilities but since the establishment of Baitul Hameed Mosque, these gatherings have been held at the Mosque in the month of December. The dates usually correspond to the dates of Qadian Jalsa Salana. In this regard, it must be added that our beloved Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV made a gracious mention of our Jalsa Salana in one of his addresses to the audience of Jalsa Salana Qadian.

For the first time in 1993, Sahibzada M.M. Ahmad Sahib (Late) participated in our Jalsa Salana and delivered his historic speech on the topic of Zikr e Habib in the concluding session. In one of our Jalsa, Maulana Nasim Mehdi Sahib also addressed the audience.

Anwer Mahmood Khan - Nazim Hazri, 2009

In our First Jalsa in 1982, we heard Live Audio Message of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV, when he launched the blessed scheme of five new Mosques for USA. We always tried to follow the pattern of Jalsa Salana UK and in this regard we had been dedicating one day to invite dignitaries and government officials to join us in our Jalsa. This had been carried out for almost a decade. After the year 2003, we had to hold our Jalsa either in Silicon Valley area or at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona.

This is the first time after seven year that we are able to organize our Jalsa at the rebuilt facilities in Chino.

Maximum attendance was 836 in the year 2006. By the grace of Allah, this year we have exceeded the registration figures of over 1100.

May Allah bless our Jalsa Salana with His Grace and Mercy. Aameen

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