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| Click on the picture to watch recorded proceeding of the convention |
Source/Credit: 25th Annual Convention Committee
By Rashid Sayed | December 29, 2010
Edited by Ahmadiyya Times | Imran Jattala
For the past quarter century, in keeping with their motto, "Love For All, Hatred For None," the Ahmadiyya Muslim community members of the West coast, United States have held their Jalsa Salana (annual convention) during the holiday season to strengthen their spiritual bonds and offer special thanks to the neighbors for their friendship and support.
Keeping up with the tradition, the Silver Jubilee, 25th Annual West Coast Convention started with Friday prayers on December 24th 2010.
The three day convention, December 24-26, 2010, was held at Bait-ul Hameed Mosque in Chino, California.
This year the community hosted over 1300 attendees from 35 chapters from the United States and 5 other countries. The attendees also included members of the national executive leadership and other dignitaries and guests.
The special theme for this year’s convention was: "Muslims For Peace and Loyalty."
The Friday’s opening session was presided by Dr. Hameedur Rahman, a national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
The opening session started with the Recitation of the Holy Qur'an. Recitation of the Holy Quran was followed by an Urdu poem.
Dr. Hameedur Rahman welcomed the guests, presented the opening remarks and explained the importance and the background of the Ahmadiyya Annual Conventions. Dr. Rahman concluded his remarks with silent prayers.
Attendees also enjoyed visiting the book stall and exhibition hall organized by the community and feasted on meals of rice, pita bread, curry and Dall, or lentil soup.
The visitors listened to Quranic verses with translation, talks about the peaceful message of Islam, directions for the younger members of the community as well as poem readings.
The event was attended by senior national officers of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, including Imam Naseem Mahdi, National Vice President and Missionary In charge; Dr. Naseem Rahmatullah, National Vice President, Wasim Malik, National Vice President; and Masoud Malik, National General Secretary. Several other members of the National Executive body were also present and delivered speeches at the convention.
Shamshad A. Nasir, Imam of Baitul Hameed mosque and missionary Southwest region delivered a talk about successes of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the face of fierce persecution.
The preparations for the convention started about three months in advance. The community had charged Imran Jattala, Monas Chaudry, Mohammad Chaudhry, and Naser Noor with the responsibilities of organizing the event.
The West Coast Annual Conventions have been held at various locations in Southern and Northern California since 1982. The very first convention of West Coast was held at Masonic lodge in San Francisco with 75 members in attendance.
Although the Ahmadiyya Muslim community of the West Coast has hosted the conventions since 1982, there has been consecutive annual gathering only since 1986 thus constituting the 2010 event as Silver Jubilee convention.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established in the 19th century in India by founder Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. The community is dedicated to a central tenet of "love for all and hatred for none."
Hazrat Ahmad himself established the institution of Jalsa Salana in 1891. The the first convention was held in Qadian, India and attended by 75 members of the community at that time.
Rashid Sayed, who served as Public Relations and Media Organizer for the 25th West Coast Jalsa Salana, contributed to this story.
--- Edited by Ahmadiyya Times
--- Chino, California: More Than 1300 Ahmadi Muslims Of West Coast USA Attend Silver Jubilee Jalsa Salana
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