In Search for God at Jalsa Salana

RoR Women’s Team

Community and sisterhood is one of the most important aspects of Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention). The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Promised Messiah (as) stated that one of the benefits of the gathering is, ‘that this congregational meeting together will promote mutual introduction among all brothers, and it will strengthen the fraternal ties within this Community.’ 

This sense of community was instantly evident when entering the mini tent city erected at Oaklands Farm, with smiling faces ushering guests inside. For Ahmadis, attending the Jalsa Salana and experiencing that sense of community is an annual highlight, something which many Ahmadis have been doing since their childhood. Such a monumental event truly becomes a staple in the lives of Ahmadis Muslims. But what is it like for those who are experiencing the Jalsa Salana for the first time?

To gain this insight, we caught up with Molly who attended Jalsa Salana UK for the first time this year; She works with refugees and asylum seekers and explained that she was introduced to Jalsa by a group of Ahmadi women she works with. These Ahmadi women had to flee Pakistan she tells us.

Being a first time attendee, one of the things which stood out to Molly the most was the sense of community:

‘I found it so welcoming, everyone is so friendly and so hospitable. It’s been so amazing to be a guest here… and you know, I’m really interested in Islam, and it’s been so affirming for me as an experience… It’s like a celebration of the community.’

Molly went on to explain ‘I’m a bit more shy- you know, I’m white, I don’t wear a hijab, I’m obviously non- Muslim…but my worries were completely eased as soon as I arrived…I don’t have to worry about starting conversations or anything like that, it’s so easy.’ 

Referring to the tight knit community of Ahmadi women, Molly explained, ‘I really noticed how much sisterhood there is, that was sort of the reason I came here because I’m not involved in a community. And you know, I’m on this journey and quite isolated, and so to see that, obviously it’s very different to what I’m used to as a white British girl.’ 

She continues, ‘Everyone knows everyone, and everyone’s introducing everyone, from different cultures as well. I think seeing that is something I haven’t actually experienced before in my life. And so that experience of seeing everyone connect because they come to Jalsa or otherwise is something that’s really special.’ 

Molly shared a but about her own spiritual journey and how she’s started out with wondering about God, after spending her life without religion. 

‘It’s really for me been almost serendipity or like little things that have come to me and that’s why I’ve been working for the last three years with this group of Ahmadi young women, that’s something that’s moved me a lot, and so that’s something that pushed me along in my journey if you know what I mean. You know, that’s a small group, and then I come [here to Jalsa] and see so many people, it definitely creates a whole different image of something that was so personal and just me.’ 

By talking to people from all walks of life, many different countries and cultures, we learn that each person brings their own identity and character to Jalsa, but each is impacted in a similar way when they get here. Everyone leaves here having made a new friend. Jalsa is a yearly reminder of how blessed this annual even truly is.