The inauguration for the Jalsa Salana UK 2021 was held on 5th August 2021. The inauguration was graced by the presence of His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masoor Ahmad (aba). This gave volunteers the opportunity of seeing His Holiness (aba) and praying behind him. For many, this was the first time they were able to do so since the start of the pandemic. His Holiness (aba) also visited the Lajna marquee. The Review of Religions spoke to some of the Lajna volunteers at Jalsa to find out how they felt about seeing and praying behind His Holiness (aba).
‘So its been at least 18 months from what I can remember since the last time I had this opportunity so I’m feeling very blessed and its also a very surreal feeling to be able to pray behind [His Holiness (aba)], but it’s also been a very, very timely and important reminder for myself just how fortunate I am to even be in this situation. As I was praying, I was thinking that there are so many people that don’t even have this opportunity, who haven’t seen our beloved Khalifa in many years or even in their entire lifetime, so I’m feeling very fortunate, very emotional and very, very blessed. Alhamdulillah (all praise belongs to Allah). ‘
-Iffat Mirza
‘To hear Huzoor’s (aba) voice for the first time in what felt like forever, it was just a feeling out of this world. I honestly felt goosebumps as soon as I heard Huzoor’s (aba) beautiful recitation and in that moment I just felt so lucky to be able to be this close to the beautiful nizam(system) of Khilafat and felt so lucky to be able to be so close and to hear his voice and to be able to attend the Jalsa Salana and the inauguration of the Jalsa Salana. It was just an out of this world experience.’
-Hania Ahmed
‘So obviously today is the inauguration and so we’ve been really, really busy all day running around, filming things, setting up our MTA office and after we ate we ran for namaz(prayer). I didn’t even think there was a possibility that Huzoor (aba) would be here to lead us in namaz. So when I heard his voice, it was such a shock that I completely, you know, that it just took me by surprise and I realised that I hadn’t heard that voice lead me in prayer for so long. It was actually quite emotional and it felt again like we were all again getting back to normal, back how Jalsa has been in the past and it just reminded me how it felt, how it feels when we are all connected, all part of one Jama`at (Community), led by our Supreme Leader. I think it was a really important moment of sorts, reuniting us as a Jama`at. Obviously, we were still being together but that hearing Huzoor’s (aba) voice lead us in namaz really just sort of made me feel that a lot more, I guess.’
-Maria Waseem
‘This year it is a totally different experience. We are in short numbers in fewer numbers but everybody is totally enthused and today when we offered our prayers behind Hazrat Ameer-ul-Mo’mineen (His Holiness) (aba). That was such a moving, a soul moving experience and now when we saw Huzoor (aba) after such a long passage of time the emotions were overflowing and it was a most beautiful experience to see Huzoor (aba) with our own eyes, Alhamdulillah (all praise belongs to Allah) and to hear Huzoor (aba) to hear him so lovingly ask that how are the ladies going to be given their refreshments, Huzoor (aba) always takes care of the ladies and also those who could not participate Huzoor (aba) spoke about them that they must be feeling very hurt. So we are remembering everyone and the Jalsa spirit is fully revived Alhamdulillah.’
-Hamida Farooqi
‘I think we haven’t seen Huzoor for nearly two years and the fact he moved to Islamabad has also been quite a time so seeing him I think it was honestly, it was like full of emotions seeing his face from so close, seeing him, it’s like something is just so close to you and you get, you know, goosebumps around your body so it’s like your spiritual father like right in front of you, it’s like…it’s just a blessing.’
-Sabika Mazhar
‘Overwhelming to see Huzoor (aba) after such a long time. I felt really blessed that Allah gave us the opportunity to be part of such a special occasion. Not everyone got the opportunity so I was just being very thankful to Allah that he gave me this opportunity to see Huzoor (aba) from such a close distance…because of my security duty, I was right at the front. So I was overwhelmed to see Huzoor (aba) after such a long time.’
-Afiya Sami
‘It has been a really, really long time since we’ve obviously seen Huzoor (aba) and in person as well and of course last year there wasn’t a Jalsa, so we overly missed Jalsa and seeing Huzoor (aba) and meeting everyone we know as well, it was a really, really emotional moment for everyone and it was really, really good to see Huzoor (aba) again.’
-Wareesha
‘I can’t express what I felt when I saw Huzoor (aba) because I was just praying for Huzoor (aba) throughout and when I saw Huzoor (aba) – unbelievable. I started praying for Huzoor (aba), I started praying for Huzoor (aba) and until Huzoor (aba) left the marquee and I was looking at Huzoor (aba) through the camera. For a long time, I was just praying for Huzoor (aba). I think that if I’m praying for Huzoor (aba) we are praying for Khilafat. All other duas (prayers) and all other prayers come under that. And I expect tomorrow and Saturday hopefully it will be a sunny day so everyone could enjoy Jalsa.’
-Saima Mushtaq
‘When I was praying behind Huzoor (aba) and I heard his voice, I couldn’t control my tears and my body started shivering and when I saw Huzoor (aba), I couldn’t control my emotions. I had seen Huzoor (aba) after such a long time and always felt like seeing Huzoor (aba). Today is the best day for me because I got to see my beloved Huzoor (aba).’
-Zahida Rana
‘I didn’t realise how much we missed these last 16 months and hearing Huzoor’s (aba) voice at Zuhr (early afternoon prayer) today was so emotional. i was on duty at the time and although I couldn’t pray, just hearing and being in the same environment again was so surreal. it definitely felt a lot quieter than our usual Jalsa but it had the same feel. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have been here in person and I pray that insha’Allah (God-willing) we will be able to pray behind Huzoor (aba) regularly again.’
-Aalia Rehman
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