Syed Mukarram Nazeer, Canada Correspondent
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Honduras held its first Jalsa Salana from 6 to 7 March 2020. Guests and volunteers arrived from Canada, Guatemala, Belize, and from the other cities, regions, and islands of Honduras.
Jalsa Salana began with Friday prayers lead by Naib Amir and acting Missionary in-Charge Canada, Hadi Ali Chaudhry Sahib. The sermon was delivered in English and translated into Spanish. After Friday Prayers and a short break, the first session was held for Jamaat members.
This session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Mohammed Sadique Sahib followed by a poem. Guests and volunteers were introduced by the missionary of Honduras, Zahir Ahmed Sahib.
A missionary from Belize, Muhammad Saleh Sahib delivered a speech on the topic of Khilafat and remembrance of Allah. Member of the Honduras Jamaat, Percy Murillo Sahib made a short speech about the blessings of Khilafat.
He shared his experiences at Jalsa Salana UK, especially the meeting with Hazrat Amirul Momineen, may Allah be his Helper.
An interesting question and answer session was held with the Naib Amir, Hadi Ali Chaudhry Sahib and Missionary-in-Charge Honduras, Zafar Iqbal Sahib. This session concluded with congregational Maghrib and Isha prayers and dinner.
On Saturday, Jalsa was held at the local Scouts Hall which is a two-minute walk from Jamaat Honduras’ main office. After congregational Zuhr and Asr prayers, all attendees walked to the Jalsa Gah.
The opening session was presided by Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Guatemala, Amir Nafees Sahib. The first session started with tilawat and a poem along with Spanish translations.
The first speech was delivered by Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Guatemala, Amir Nafees Sahib. The next speech was about the “Fundamentals of Islam”, delivered by a local member of Honduras Jamaat, Dr Rolando Antunez Murillo Sahib.
A short video about the introduction of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya was shown in Spanish. The first session concluded with a speech on the administrative system of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, presented by Naib Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada, Mubashar Ahmad Sahib.
This was followed by a short tea break. The second and concluding session was presided by Naib Amir Canada, Hadi Ali Chaudhary Sahib who read out a message from Huzooraa in English, the Spanish translation was presented by Zahir Ahmed Sahib.
Next, a speech was delivered by Dr Jose Edgardo Sahib on the topic of “What turned me towards Islam and what have I attained since joining the Jamaat”.
Visiting dignitaries were acknowledged and some were invited to say a few words. Among them was a representative from the national party from the district of Olancho, the Director from the Ministry of Energy and a local female Jamaat member who was representing the Medical Students Association of Honduras.
The concluding speech was delivered by Naib Amir and Acting Missionary in-charge Canada, Hadi Ali Chaudhary Sahib, followed by a question and answer session. Along with other speeches and presentations, five local members of Honduras presented three speeches and two translations of poems and tilawats.
The majority of the attendees were very excited and the locals had a chance to learn more about Islam. On this historic occasion, Honduras Jamaat was also blessed with a Bai‘at of a woman – who came all the way from the Bay Islands of Honduras to attend the very first Jalsa Salana.
This Bai‘at took place on 7 March, before the start of the first session of the day. The total attendance was 64 that consisted of eight people from Canada, a delegation of 11 from Guatemala, five from Belize and the rest were locals. Alhamdulillah