The three-day, 88 ^th Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Bangladesh concluded on 5 ^th February 2012 in Dhaka with a powerful and faith inspiring address by the World Head of the community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who addressed the event from the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London via satellite. The Jalsa attracted over 6,300 people from various countries who attended the event in Dhaka, whilst over 1,500 gathered in London for the concluding session.

The Khalifa used much of his address to speak about the true character of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He said it was the Prophet of Islam who took it upon himself to support all those who were vulnerable, be they orphans or those afflicted with poverty. Further, he said that it was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who first gave women their due rights and afforded them the dignity and honour they deserved.

Speaking about the Holy Prophet’s desire for peace and respect for all religions, His Holiness said:

“The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) counselled his own companions to forsake their own due rights for the sake of establishing peace and reconciliation in the world. And it was he who called for the protection of synagogues, churches and all places of worship in the same way that he called for the protection of mosques.”

His Holiness said that non-Ahmadi Muslims regularly alleged that Ahmadis had dishonoured the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by accepting Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a Prophet of Allah and as the Promised Messiah. But the truth was that the Promised Messiah was the greatest servant of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and had spent his entire life advocating total obedience to him and thus his followers were the ultimate defenders of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). His Holiness said:

“For the sake of protecting the reputation and dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) we, Ahmadi Muslims, are ready to make every required sacrifice and indeed we are making every such sacrifice for this purpose.”

His Holiness spoke also of the so-called ‘religious scholars’ who had developed huge followings in Muslim countries. He said that instead of bringing people closer to God, such people were poisoning society with their extremist ideology and taking people away from Islam’s true teachings.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that division and discord had penetrated many Muslim countries to such an extent that segments of society were actually publicly stating that it seemed as though they were being punished by God Almighty. He said extremism was also penetrating parts of Bangladeshi society and that such a path could only lead to destruction.

His Holiness said that the extreme clerics failed to take any responsibility for their actions and continually blamed various terrorist groups for the indiscriminate violence being witnessed today in much of the world. But he said the truth was that such clerics worked hand in hand with terrorists and were continually plotting to harm Ahmadi Muslims and other innocent groups.

Concluding his address with a message to Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis alike, His Holiness said:

“The opponents of our community are trying their utmost to destroy our Jamaat, but they will never be successful. Let it be clear that their efforts can never succeed and indeed their evil plans will soon die a death. The spread of Ahmadiyyat is destined because it is God’s Will.”