The atmosphere of Jalsa Salana UK brings unique excitement and emotions. Where thousands will flock to Hadeeqatul Mahdi – following a few years of strict restrictions due to the pandemic – millions of others will experience the spiritual ambience of Jalsa Salana UK through the blessing of MTA International.
The convergence of multitudes of nationalities, ages and backgrounds at Jalsa Salana, weaved as one body through the “rope of Allah” – Khilafat – to propagate the honour of Allah and gain His closeness brings a unique sight to the Muslim ummah.
The Promised Messiahas – and the Khulafa after him – have repeatedly emphasised that the purpose of Jalsa Salana is for spiritual reformation; unlike any hollow worldly festival. Jalsa Salana seeks to forge the human condition towards the Islamic path of taqwa – righteousness.
In a recent message to Jalsa Salana USA, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa summed up the objective of Jalsa Salana in the following words:
“Indeed, the fundamental purpose for holding this Gathering is that you should acquire religious knowledge and spiritual training, and that after returning from the Jalsa, you should impart this guidance to others and also strive to fulfil diligently the obligations of your bai‘at.
“In this regard, the Promised Messiahas has stated:
“‘This system of bai‘at has been established solely to gather together a group of the righteous people in a Jamaat so that a substantial group of the righteous people should make a holy impact on the world. The unity of these righteous people should be a source of blessings, grandeur, and positive results for Islam. The blessings of being united on one creed may enable them to perform noble and righteous services for the sake of Islam […] .’
“To take bai‘at means handing over your life to Almighty Allah. If each one of us recognises that, ‘My person does not now belong to me; I now have to abide by all injunctions of Almighty Allah under all circumstances and have to follow them faithfully and make all acts of mine subservient to the pleasure of Allah,’ that in fact is the summary of the ten conditions of bai‘at. […]” (Al Hakam, 24 June 2022, p. 18)
Thus, the noble atmosphere of Jalsa Salana should create “unity” that “should be a source of blessings, grandeur, and positive results for Islam.” This blessed unity will be achieved when we truly hand ourselves to Allah and fulfil His rights and the rights of His creation.
At Jalsa Salana, as guests congregate to offer their prayers behind Khalifatul Masihaa and learn from his addresses, and the speeches of the Jalsa speakers, and occupy themselves with remembering Allah, they also practise and improve fulfilling the rights of mankind. From catering for the guests and respecting the hosts to conveying salaam to passers-by, Jalsa Salana becomes an arena for sculpting our souls to become more compassionate, merciful and loving to one another – thus creating a holy impact and becoming part of the “group of the righteous”.
Speaking of this act of worship, the Promised Messiahas said:
“Being compassionate towards the creation of God is a remarkable act and God is pleased with it a great deal. What more could one ask for; God shows kindness towards the one who is kind towards His creation.
“It is generally acknowledged in the world that if a person’s servant goes to a friend of his and that friend does not look after his servant, the master of that servant will certainly not be happy with his friend. Looking after the servant and treating him with kindness is like taking care of the master. God Almighty also dislikes that someone treats His creation coldly because He loves His creation. The person who is compassionate towards God Almighty’s creation wins the pleasure of God.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 215-216)
This compassion and love for one another – an objective of Jalsa Salana – will originate from unadulterated worship that is pregnant with the love of Allah and His creation.
During Jalsa Salana, with each prostration and prayer, our hearts and souls must create a positive change from within, in that our character and morals become transformed and our soul becomes reserved for Allah’s worship and care for His creation.
The Promised Messiahas said:
“As there are the obligatory acts of salat, the heart should also submit in the same way. When one physically stands [in salat], the heart should also show obedience in the same way. If one bows, the heart should also do the same. If one prostrates, the heart should also prostrate. The prostration of the heart should be such that it never abandons God.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp. 589-590)
The hallmark of a true believer is, therefore, that they not only bow before Allah with their body but submit their heart too and show absolute humility and begin to serve and love Allah’s creation as well.
Jalsa Salana is the ideal time to put these teachings into practice – worshipping Allah to a higher degree and uniting with His creation.
The Holy Prophetsa said:
“Anyone who relieves a hardship for a believer in this world, Allah will relieve one of his hardships on the Day of Resurrection. Anyone who makes things easy for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Anyone who covers up the faults and sins of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his faults and sins in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave supports his brother. For anyone who travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make an easy path for him to Paradise. There are no people who gather in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching it, except tranquillity descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels flock and hover around them, and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him. And anyone who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble lineage will not advance him any faster.” (Sahih Muslim, Chapter: The virtue of gathering to read the Quran and to remember Allah, Hadith 2699a)
This hadith exemplifies the spiritual and moral atmosphere Jalsa Salana aims to provide the training for. Where guests of the Promised Messiahas will be shrouded by the wings of angels and will partake of the blessed company of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, they will also have the opportunity to excel in worshipping Allah (with body and soul) and opening the windows of their hearts to show compassion, mercy and love for mankind.