There was a pious elder whom Hazrat Hakeem Maulvi Noor-ud-Din (ra) would visit regularly. For a period, however, he became somewhat negligent and did not visit him for several days. When he finally went to see him, the old man said, “Noor-ud-Din, it has been a long time since you last came. Where have you been all this while?”
He replied, “Hazrat, we students are often occupied with our studies and learning, so we rarely find much free time. I was also somewhat negligent.”
The elder then asked, “Have you ever seen a butcher’s shop?” He replied, “Yes, many times.”
The righteous man said, “You must have noticed that while cutting meat, the butcher’s knives gradually become dull. He then rubs the two knives against each other, removing the layer of fat that has built up on their edges. Once the fat is cleared away, the knives become sharp again and he continues cutting the meat. He repeats this process from time to time to keep the knives sharp.”
Huzoor (ra) said, “Yes, Hazrat, I have seen this. But what do you mean by it?”
The elder replied, “[Just as fat gathers on those knives], slumber comes over both of us. When you come and spend time in our company, some of your slumber is removed and some of ours as well. In this way, we both become [spiritually] sharpened. Therefore, keep visiting us and do not allow long periods of separation and distance to come between us.”
Hazrat Hakeem Maulvi Noor-ud-Din (ra) said:
“His words brought me immense benefit. From that day onwards, I always felt that a person should regularly sit in the company of the righteous, for doing so removes many forms of slumbers.” (Mirqat al-Yaqeen fi Hayat Noor-ud-Din, pp. 79-80)
Jalsa Salana brings together the blessings of righteous company with a powerful spirit of belonging, making every attendee feel part of one spiritual family. Many who travel from distant lands, despite never having met before, leave this gathering feeling as though they have known one another for years.
This deep sense of belonging is not merely a result of being surrounded by thousands of fellow believers. In fact, it is a natural outcome of the divine purpose for which the Promised Messiah (as) established this blessed convention, as one of the objectives of Jalsa Salana is to provide members of the Jamaat with the opportunity to become better acquainted with one another and to cultivate lasting bonds of brotherhood, affection and love.
The head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (aa) states:
“Today, the scope of acquaintance and brotherhood has expanded to an unparalleled degree. We witness [during Jalsa Salana] an ordinary worker from Qadian meeting fellow believers from America or Russia, an Arab meeting members from Europe and people from every corner of the world coming together. In these encounters, one sees the very spirit that exemplifies the brotherhood of believers – and this is the spirit that should always prevail.” (Friday Sermon, 27 December 2013)
The Promised Messiah (as) said regarding Jalsa Salana that “This spiritual convention will have many other spiritual benefits which will become manifest from time to time.” (The Heavenly Decree, p. 74)
More than a century later, the above words continue to reveal new dimensions of their truth. In a world where loneliness and social isolation have become widespread challenges, Jalsa Salana offers a powerful alternative.
It demonstrates that genuine belonging is not created by shared ethnicity, language or nationality but by shared values and mutual respect. Perhaps one of the clearest manifestations of those promised “spiritual benefits” is the profound sense of belonging that Jalsa Salana instils.