The Objectives and Purpose of the Jalsa Salana

We present extracts from the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah^as, on annual conventions held within the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

All sincere souls who have entered the fold of this humble one should know that the purpose of pledging allegiance is to dampen the worldly ardour, so that the heart is engulfed in the love of the Bountiful God and of the Holy Prophet^sa, and to develop such a state of detachment that the Final Journey does not seem an unwelcome prospect. But in order to achieve this, it is necessary to stay in my company and to spend a portion of one’s life in this cause, so that—if God Almighty so wills—through witnessing some definite signs, weakness, infirmity and tardiness may be overcome and perfect faith may be born, resulting in fervour and passionate ardour. One should always strive to achieve this goal and pray that God may grant this opportunity. Until this happens, it is essential to meet me now and then. Bai‘at is devoid of all blessings and is a mere formality if one does not care to meet me. Since—due to physical inability, lack of resources, and long distances—it is not possible for everyone to stay in my company or to visit me a few times every year, and most hearts are not yet endowed with such ardent desire that they should bear the greatest troubles and hardships for the meeting, it seems appropriate, therefore, that three days of every year should be fixed for a gathering in which all my devoted followers should—God willing—be present, with the condition of health, time and absence of strong impediments. So, in my opinion, these dates should be from 27^th to 29^th December. Hence, from this day, 30^th December 1891, if we live to see the 27^th of December, all our friends should, to the best of their ability, come and listen to Divine words and to join us in supplication for the sake of Allah. This gathering will be devoted to the exposition of such truths and spiritual insight as are necessary for the promotion of faith and certainty and spiritual understanding, and there will be special prayers and attention for the participants. And to the best of our ability we shall endeavour to supplicate at the threshold of the Most Merciful that He may draw them towards Him, may accept them and may bring about a pious change in them. An additional benefit of these gatherings will be that each year new entrants to the Jama‘at shall, by being present on the fixed dates, get to know their brethren who had joined earlier. And these meetings will lead to progressive strengthening of the bond of mutual love and affection. Prayers for absolution will be offered for brothers who will have passed away in the interim, and supplications shall be made at the threshold of the Glorious God that He may unite all these brothers in spirit and banish all estrangement, dryness and differences from amongst them.

This spiritual convention will have many other spiritual benefits which will become manifest from time to time. Those suffering from paucity of means would be well-advised to plan ahead for attending this Jalsa. If they lay by a small sum on a daily or monthly basis, through planning and saving, they will have enough provisions for the journey, and it will seem as if the journey was undertaken free of cost. Those who approve of the proposal should inform me now in writing so that a separate list can be made of those who are resolved, for the rest of their lives, to attend the gathering on the specified dates with all their heart and soul and with the greatest resolve—unless it is simply beyond their power and means to undertake the journey. May Allah grant a goodly reward to those who underwent the travails of travel to attend the convention which was held on 27^th December 1891 for the purpose of religious consultations. May He reward every step they look upon this journey. Amen, Amen.^[1]

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.^[2]

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^sa. 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.^[3]

I conclude with the prayer that everyone who travels for [attending] this Convention that is for the sake of Allah: May Allah, the Exalted, be with him, reward him in abundant measure, have mercy on him, ease up for him his circumstances of hardship and anxiety and eliminate his anguish and grief. May He grant him freedom from every single hardship and lay open for him the ways of [achieving] his cherished goals, and raise him up, on the day of Judgment, among those of His servants who are the recipients of His blessings and Mercy. May He be their Guardian in their absence until after their journey comes to an end. O Allah! O Sublime One and Bestower of bounties, the Ever Merciful and One Who resolves all problems, do grant all these prayers, and grant us victory over our opponents with scintillating signs, because You alone have all the prowess and power. Ameen! Ameen!^[4]

Endnotes

1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, The Heavenly Decree, pp. 73-75.

2. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo’ah Ishtiharat, Vol. 1, p. 340.

3. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo’ah Ishtiharat, Vol. 1, p. 341.

4. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, Ishtihar 7 Dec. 1892, Majmoo’ah Ishtiharat, Vol. 1, p. 342.