Batte Ahmad Kaire
Uganda Correspondent
On Wednesday, 9 January 2019, the inauguration ceremony of duties for Jalsa Salana Uganda was held.
After the Zuhr and Asr prayers, the Amir and Missionary In-charge Uganda, Al-Haj Muhammad Ali Kaire held a meeting with all the departmental heads.
In his address, Amir Sahib emphasised the importance of devotion and serving in Jalsa Salana. In connection with Waqar-e-Amal (voluntary physical labour), he said that congregational work and congregational prayers are symbols of unity among us, and the unity among us complements the unity of God.
The inauguration concluded with the inspection of different departments by Amir Sahib.
On Friday 11 January 2019, the 31st Jalsa Salana Uganda commenced with the Jumua prayer led by Amir and Missionary In-charge Uganda and Rwanda, Maulana Al-Haj Muhammad Ali Kaire.
In his sermon, Amir Sahib said that it was a blessings of Allah that in an age of great satanic influences, He raised the Messiah and Mahdi as the Imam of the age to counter these influences and He has bestowed upon us the favour of Khilafat that leads us on the right path.
He also said that the Jamaat started in Uganda in 1934 and the numbers would have been easily at least ten million by now, but unfortunately the tarbiyat of the younger generation was not properly performed and when they grew up, they distanced themselves from the Jamaat.
Amir Sahib said that it is only through obedience and in keeping a peaceful environment that we can attain victory.
After the Jumua prayer, Amir Sahib met the press. Mr Henry Nsubuga asked the Amir to clarify the point of the youth being the foundation upon which the spiritual transformation of people is laid. In answering this question, he said that old people have already moulded in the shape that they will remain for the rest of their lives. However, the youth are akin to a fertile land on which the seeds of taqwa can be sown.
The first session began with the hoisting of Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat by Amir Sahib, which was followed by recitation from the Holy Quran by Sheikh Hafiz Azhar Nkuutu. This was followed by an Arabic poem recital by Sheikh Nasir Nsonko.
In his opening speech, Amir Sahib welcomed the guests and thanked all the organisers who worked tooth and nail to make the Jalsa Salana a success.
He then read out Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V’saa message to the members participating in Jalsa Salana Uganda 2019.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“Dear members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Uganda. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. I am pleased that you are holding your 31st Jalsa Salana on 11, 12 and 13 January 2019. May God Almighty make this Jalsa Salana a great blessing for you, and through it, may He enable you raise your spiritual conditions.
“A great favour upon us that we have accepted the Promised Messiahas and Mahdi who is the Imam of age. It is therefore incumbent upon us, who have pledged allegiance to him, to strive always to improve our spiritual conditions.
“The Promised Messiahas admonished us to raise our standard of righteousness and shun all kinds of evils and also strengthen our personal relationship with our Creator.
“We should not only read the words of the Bai‘at and listen to the sayings of the Imam of the age, but also endeavour to put these teachings in practices.”