Muhammad Ali Ahmad, Muavin Sadr MKA UK (Press and Media)
With Jalsa Salana UK only a few days away, the members of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK are serving on all fronts to prepare for the Jalsa and to welcome and serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas.
Although from an organisational point of view, the preparation of Jalsa Salana starts after one Jalsa ends, however as the time for Jalsa Salana approaches, members of MKA UK are one of the first ones on site at Hadeeqatul Mahdi for waqar-e-amal, well before any marquees start arriving. Similarly, the task of waqar-e-amal continues throughout and weeks after the end of each Jalsa Salana UK.
During Jalsa Salana, the Khidmat-e-Khalq department has 56 nizamats under Afsar Khidmat-e-Khalq. Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya has the opportunity to serve as Afsar Khidmat-e-Khalq with naib sadran serving as naib afsaran and the National Amila members and Regional Qaideen serving as nazimeen for various nizamats. Altogether roughly 2500 volunteers are serving during Jalsa Salana under the Khidmat-e-Khalq department with the majority being Khuddam.
Due to the 28 days allowed by local authorities to set up and wind up Jalsa Salana, the Khidmat-e-Khalq department has a 24/7 presence at Hadeeqatul Mahdi for the entire 28 days to man the gates and the public right of way. As Hadeeqatul Mahdi is considered a construction site for almost 24 out of 28 days, every volunteer, worker and contractor must sign in and out of Hadeeqatul Mahdi and the Khuddam volunteers on duty ensure they check in and out every time entering and leaving Hadeeqatul Mahdi.
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK is extremely fortunate and blessed to have Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa residing in the UK. As many guests travel thousands of miles to come to the UK to attend Jalsa, their priority is to spend as much time in the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa as they can. MKA UK has the opportunity to provide Khuddam for duties at Islamabad 365 days of the year and as many guests go to Islamabad before and after Jalsa to offer their prayers behind Huzooraa, more and more Khuddam are assigned duties at Islamabad to carry out various duties.
Once the marquees have been erected, the amount of work to set up the Jalsa site in time increases manifold. For this purpose, Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya invites its members from across the UK to part take in Jalsa Waqf-e-Arzi. During the week, 30-40 Khuddam stay at Hadeeqatul Mahdi and engage in various tasks to turn “a farmland” into a “tent city”.
Khuddam take part in tasks such as flooring, carpeting, gardening, fencing, carrying out electrical work, setting up the Jalsa Store, main marquee and general waqar-e-amal. The Khuddam this year have also had interactive sessions with mohtamim talim and sadr majlis khuddamul ahmadiyya to increase their knowledge and share their experiences with sadr sahib. The highlight for Khuddam on waqf-e-arzi has been the opportunity to offer Fajr prayers behind Huzooraa at Islamabad every day.
Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK is truly honoured to have the opportunity to serve at Jalsa Salana UK, especially as Jalsa Salana UK is extremely fortunate to host Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa.
Beloved Huzooraa graciously takes a keen interest in all activities of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, blesses us with his prayers and provides the majlis with invaluable guidance throughout the year. As a majlis, we are grateful to Allah Almighty for blessing us with the institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.