Source/Credit: The Tribune | India | Tribune News Service
By Ravi Dhaliwal | Updated | December 29, 2010
Qadian (India): ‘Love for all, hatred for none’, screamed the banners and hoardings amidst thousands of Ahmadiya (Muslims) who had descended on this non-descript township, 28 km from Gurdaspur, to attend the three-day 119th Jalsa Salana (annual convention) since December 26.
Delegates attending this function relating to the Ahmadiya Muslim Community (AMC) also came from the United Kingdom, USA, Canada and European countries like France, Sweden, Netherlands and Belgium.
The maximum number of foreign delegates, totalling 4,586, had come from Pakistan, overcoming the chilly winter conditions, just to bask in the glory and warmth of the Muslim brotherhood.
One of the delegates has come all the way from the little known Wake Island, located in the North Pacific Ocean.
He disclosed that the access to the island is restricted and is controlled by the US Air Force and the island is on the international map because the US operates a missile facility from there.
“It took me three days to reach Qadian. It is my love and respect for universal Muslim brotherhood that got me interested in travelling thousands of kilometres just to attend the proceedings.”
The Ahmadiya movement is a religious movement founded by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian in the last century. The movement, say its leaders, works for national integrity and religious tolerance.
Press secretary Sheikh Mujahid Ahmad Shastri said:
“Obedience to the policies and plans of the ruling government and sympathy to entire mankind are the main features of the more than hundred year old movement. We always engage ourselves in humanitarian activities whenever natural calamities arise in the shape of earthquakes, floods and epidemics. Our movement is spread across 178 countries and the Ahmadiya community is a great cementing force for mankind, articulating the theme of unity and understanding.”
An interesting feature of the proceedings was that all speakers were encouraged to highlight the good points of their respective faiths without maligning other religions. Muslim speakers were encouraged to speak on Krishna and Hindu speakers were asked to speak on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
-- Edited by Ahmadiyya Times | Updated | December 29, 2010
Read original post here: Ahmadiyas converge on Qadian - Annual Convention begins
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