Taimoor Ahmad, Head of Social Media Department, Jalsa Salana Burkina Faso
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Burkina Faso held its 30th Jalsa Salana on 25-27 March 2022.
This year, the Jalsa theme was – keeping in mind the national insecurity context – “Islam Ahmadiyya: Love for All, Hatred for None”. The Jalsa was held at Bustan-e-Mahdi, located 20 km from the capital, Ouagadougou.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa honoured Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Burkina Faso by sending Muhammad Sharif Odeh Sahib, Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Kababir as his representative.
Participants started arriving from all regions of Burkina Faso for the Jalsa on 24 March. The same day in the evening, Muhammad Sharif Odeh Sahib along with Amir Jamaat Burkina Faso, Mahmood Nasir Saqib Sahib, and Afsar Jalsa Salana, Daouda Kone Sahib, inspected the Jalsa site where they visited all the departments of the Jalsa.
The Jalsa commenced on 25March early in the morning with tahajjud and Fajr prayers, followed by a dars on the importance of learning and teaching the Holy Quran.
Later on, after Friday and Asr prayers, it rained heavily which soaked the Jalsa Gah and the carpets where participants would sit and pray. Thus, the opening session was delayed. At around 6 pm GMT, the session began with the flag hoisting ceremony. Sharif Odeh Sahib hoisted the Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat and amir sahib Burkina Faso hoisted the national flag. Despite the wet carpets and water pouring into the Jalsa Gah, participants resolutely remained in their seats to follow the opening session of the Jalsa.
In the evening, the Ahmadi Muslim Students Association had a meeting with Ahmadi students present at the Jalsa. The students had the opportunity to ask a wide range of questions related to their studies and what they should do in their everyday life as Ahmadis. In addition, another meeting was held between Ahmadi teachers and professors in order to elaborate a plan to improve the Jamaat’s educational programme in Burkina Faso.
Alongside the proceedings of Jalsa Salana, there were bureaus of Waqf-e-Nau, Wasiyyat, and Rishta Nata present at the site to help participants better understand these respective schemes and answer their questions. Humanity First Burkina Faso also had their cafeteria in Bustan-e-Mahdi, where they collected donations to serve mankind.
The next day, 26 March, also started with tahajjud and Fajr prayers and a dars on the importance of remembrance of Allah. Later that day, two sessions were held in which Jamaat scholars delivered speeches on various topics.
In the evening, as a tradition, the Ahmadi Muslim Student Association organised a forum on “Security challenges and national reconciliation: What could be the contribution of religion?” People from various beliefs were invited on that occasion to present their points of view.
Simultaneously, there were Jalsa sessions in local languages going on. These languages included Mooré, Dioula, Fulfuldé and Bissa. There was a special session for the Arabic speaking guests with Muhammad Sharif Odeh Sahib.
On 27 March, after tahajjud and Fajr prayers, at 9 am GMT, a fourth session took place which was presided over by amir sahib Burkina Faso. In that session, a speech was delivered on the main theme of this year’s Jalsa by the principal of Jamia-tul-Mubashireen Burkina Faso.
Immediately after the fourth session, the concluding session started which was presided over by Muhammad Sharif Odeh Sahib. He delivered a speech on the importance of Khilafat and later led everyone in silent prayer.
Approximately 10,000 people attended this year’s Jalsa Salana.