Auxiliaries’ Ijtemas in Sri Lanka

A Abdul Aziz

Sri Lanka Correspondent

The annual Ijtema of the Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya, Sri Lanka were held at Masjid Fazl, Negombo. The Atfal Ijtema was held on 7 October and the Khuddam Ijtema was held on 13 and 14 of October 2018. 

The proceedings started with flag hoisting and then the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the declaration of the auxiliary’s pledges respectively by those present.

Prior to this, all local Majlis had held their local Ijtemas and selections had been made for those who would participate in the national Ijtema competitions. The chief guest of the event was A H Nasir Ahmad Sahib – Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Sri Lanka. 

In his key-note address, he said that as taught by the Promised Messiah^as, we should give preference to religion over the world, and as Khuddam, they should be ready to sacrifice everything for the cause of religion. He cited the sacrifice of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif^ra of Afghanistan who laid down his life for the sake of Ahmadiyyat. Being a man of high esteem in the world, he did not submit to worldy pursuits. Amir Sahib said: 

“We must have a tendency of humbleness, not arrogance; a sense of complete obedience to the Nizam-e-Jamaat – [this is] a must.” 

He concluded his address by quoting from the sayings of the Promised Messiah^as in his book, Kishti-e-Nuh. 

Apart from the usual competitions like prepared speech, tilawat and nazm, this year competitions like the memory and observation test and Chinese whispers were held. The memory and observation test required contestants to memorise fifty pictures shown to them on a screen and write them down in a limited period of time. 

A major part of the quiz competitions was based on the Friday Sermons of our Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih^aa.

Those who had achieved educational excellence were awarded prizes. Awards were also distributed to those who had completed the Holy Quran challenge – complete a full reading of the Quran – during the month of Ramadan.

Lajna Imaillah Sri Lanka held its Ijtema on 29 and 30 September 2018 at Ahmadiyya Jubilee Hall, Negombo. The main event started with flag hoisting by A H Nasir Ahmad Sahib, Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sri Lanka, followed by silent prayer. Shakeela Aslam Sahiba, Sadr Lajna Imaillah Sri Lanka, chaired the event which began with the recitation of the Holy Quran.

In his address, after giving general advice on benefitting from this Ijtema in the best possible manner, Amir Sahib quoted from the addresses delivered by Hazrat Amirul Momineen^aa in the recent addresses to ladies at Jalsa Salana UK, Germany and Belgium. 

In her inaugural address, Sadr Lajna Imaillah Sri Lanka said that the aim of such gatherings was to promote love and brotherhood among its members and to develop righteousness and piety.

An Nisa – a publication of Lajna Imaillah Sri Lanka – was launched and the first copy was given to Amir Sahib.

The daylong event included academic competition such as Hifz-e-Quran competition, quiz competition and Urdu poem competition etc. Ahmadi girls and ladies from all chapters of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Sri Lanka attended.