BY: JELANI GRANT
The largest Muslim organization in Canada held their 42nd Jalsa Salana Canada convention, with an attendance of more than 21,000 over the entire weekend. The theme for this year’s convention was “Pathway to Peace”, which they say will be achieved through the committed endorsement of nine principles. National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada Lal Khan Malik explained that the purpose of the campaign is to bring information to Canadians, and people around the world, about the various ways peace can be promoted based on the teachings of Islam.
The principles include the elimination of weapons profiteering, the need for nuclear disarmament, loyalty to country, absolute justice and recognition of the creator. The convention has served as an opportunity for members who have not yet been acquainted to network with others while reconnecting members who regard each other as family. Thousands of volunteers within the Amhadiyya organization helped plan and set up the three-day convention over months to ensure everyone who attended felt welcomed. To close each day, flavorful Pakistani meals were served buffet-style until everyone in attendance was full.
The Pan African Ahmadiyya Muslim Association US President Abdullah Dibba and PAAMA UK President Tommy Kallon attended the launch of PAAMA Canada at the convention. The organization began in the UK in 1986 and was recently launched in the US. Dibba has served as president since the US chapter launched in July 2017. The association began with the intent of “uniting together Ahmadi Muslims of African descent in the diaspora under one umbrella,” Dibba told Toronto Caribbean. “Under the auspices of the Association, it’s members come together in affectionate ties of brotherhood and sisterhood and carry out programs designed to promote intellectual discourse and dialogue, facilitate religious education and training, and engender service to humanity.”
The launch was initiated by the supreme head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V. The group held their 70th Annual convention in America and Dibba said the hospitality and sense of unity are mirrored regardless of which country the convention is held in. “The turnout was great as we saw members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada from all backgrounds come together…they all serve the exact same purpose. Different cultures and countries have unique things which all contribute to the beauty of every Jalsa,” he said.
In addition to the prayer, religious speeches, and dialogue, the convention provided a space to support the global aid organization Humanity First. They are primarily a disaster relief organization that, through Ahmadiyya’s support, have provided global relief to those in need. Humanity First Media & Communications Director Mubashir Khalid has been serving the initiative for the past 13 years and says the organization doesn’t stop at providing temporary relief. “Within the rebuilding process, we have many different projects we work on,” Khalid said. The nine key programs currently active are disaster relief, food security, knowledge for life, water for life, global health, the gift of sight, community care, orphan care and is at the forefront of refugee resettlement in Canada. Registered in more than 50 countries and sustained by Ahmadi volunteers, and donations, the organization has provided support for devastating incidents such as the droughts in Kenya and Somalia, Hurricane Matthews impact in Haiti, and typhoon Tembin that hit the Philippines in 2017.
When Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti, they were able to deploy relief teams faster than others because they already had facilities and volunteers established. “The beauty of Humanity First is that we are able to dispatch our teams within hours of notice in times of disasters,” Khalid said.
All of the volunteers are well trained to ensure the safety of everyone and though some of these missions require a full-time commitment, Khalid emphasized that no one representing Humanity First is paid for their work. “We have a large pool of volunteers who are professional firefighters, doctors and nurses that take time out of their schedules to volunteer time and money to do the work,” Khalid told Toronto Caribbean.
The volunteers who dedicate their time to supporting these programs do not view what they do as a job because they enjoy providing help to others. This initiative demonstrates a few other principles towards the pathway to peace; the need for economic equity and eradicating poverty, service to mankind and global unity among nations. Additionally, they provide local food banks, food delivery to those in need across the GTA.
Ahmadiyya is defined as the divinely promised revival of Islam prophesied in the Holy Qur’an. Founded in 1889 by religious leader Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the organization is registered in more than 200 countries with a membership of more than 10,000,000. Another principle followed during the pathway to peace is to reject extremism and being the leading Islamic organization to categorically reject terrorism, Ahmadiyya has historically demonstrated this principle through things like their annual convention.
