Around 30,000 delegates attended the three-day event close to the Surrey border
By
For the 56th time in the UK the Ahmadiyya Muslim community held its annual convention, known as Jalsa Salana, last weekend (August 5 to 7). The event took place at Oakland Farm, a 210-acre site in Alton, close to the Surrey border.
About 30,000 delegates were in attendance at the gathering, which was cancelled in 2020 and limited to 5,000 people last year. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph of the community, addressed attendees in person on all three days.
The event was also streamed and broadcast to members of the community worldwide, and external speakers addressed the crowd via video link. Normally people travel from over 100 countries in order to attend, although this number was lower than usual for the 2022 event due to ongoing precautions related to the pandemic.
READ MORE: Senior Surrey Police officers join Ahmadiyya Muslim youth group for Ramadan fast
Ahmadi Muslims are only a small percentage of the total number of people following the faith in the UK, but its numbers are growing. It differs from some other denominations in that Ahmadi Muslims believe in the second coming of the Messiah, Jesus, which will be metaphorically fulfilled in a perfect Muslim who will revitalise Islam and bring about lasting peace.
They believe that their community’s founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was that person. Since his death in 1908 the community has been led by a series of Caliphs, of whom current leader Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the fifth. The community has its international headquarters in Tilford, Surrey, and has bases in over 200 countries. You can learn more about them by visiting the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK website.
Get more news for the county’s Muslim communities from SurreyLive straight to your inbox for free here.
One of the speakers in the main arena(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)1 of 9- Flags of all countries where there is an Ahmadiyya community represented(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)2 of 9
- A technician oversees the event from the sound desk(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)3 of 9
Delegates listening to speakers in the main arena(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)4 of 9138266811001- Around 30,000 people attended this year’s event in person(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)5 of 9
- His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, addresses delegates(Image: Tariq Chowdhry / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)6 of 9
- Surrey Police had a stall at the event(Image: Tan Khokhar / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)7 of 9138329041097
- The event lasted for three days(Image: Tariq Chowdhry / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)8 of 9
- A banner with a quote encapsulating the spirit of Jalsa Salana(Image: Tan Khokhar / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)9 of 9
One of the speakers in the main arena(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)1 of 9
Flags of all countries where there is an Ahmadiyya community represented(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)2 of 9
A technician oversees the event from the sound desk(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)3 of 9
Delegates listening to speakers in the main arena(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)4 of 9138266811001
Around 30,000 people attended this year’s event in person(Image: Naseem Hayat / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)5 of 9
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, addresses delegates(Image: Tariq Chowdhry / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)6 of 9
Surrey Police had a stall at the event(Image: Tan Khokhar / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)7 of 9138329041097
The event lasted for three days(Image: Tariq Chowdhry / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)8 of 9
A banner with a quote encapsulating the spirit of Jalsa Salana(Image: Tan Khokhar / Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat)9 of 9MORE ON
