Waqas Khurshid, Missionary, Kiribati
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Kiribati held its 5th Jalsa Salana in the village of Bonriki on the island of Tarawa in Kiribati on 24-25 May 2025. The theme for this year’s Jalsa was “Islam’s Call to a Moral Life”.
On 24 May, the first session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by Hadith and opening remarks by Qasim Choudhary Sahib, missionary in Marshall Islands, on “The Holy Prophetsa as the guide for Moral Excellence”. This was followed by a speech by a local missionary in Kiribati, Nasiruddin Kiatoa Booa Sahib, on “Abstaining from vices and increasing in morality: Examples from the past and present”.
Guests were then encouraged to share their remarks. Pastor Borauea spoke about moral excellence from the perspective of Christianity; Ruth Cross Kwansing, Minister of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs, represented the President and gave her remarks, which focused on how excellent morals can improve our society and the world at large. In the end, Waqas Khurshid Sahib, missionary in Kiribati, delivered concluding remarks on how all religions teach similar morals and the importance of interfaith respect and understanding. The guests were gifted a copy of the Holy Quran as well as other material about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
After the conclusion of the session, guests were served dinner and encouraged to visit the exhibition to learn more about Islam.
On 25 May, the second session of the Jalsa Salana began for members of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in Kiribati. The day started off with a Lajna session, in which speeches were delivered on reconciling the pacific islander culture with the moral excellences of Islam and the blessed moral example of Hazrat Amma Janra. The khuddam and ansar had a simultaneous discussion on the modern issues they face and how to better address these as men. To conclude the Jalsa, a joint session was held for all members and the weekend ended with du‘a, lunch and salat.