38th Annual Ahmadiyya Convention Draws to a Successful Close

The 38th Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at successfully concluded June 22, 2014 in Mississauga, Ontario. 14,705 people were in attendance for the three day event from across Canada, United States and 21 other countries. Among the key topics discussed were; love for humanity, promotion and practice of Islamic values. The keynote speech was a message of peace, delivered by Mualana Mubarak Ahmad Nazir.

In his keynote speech, Mualana Mubarak Ahmad Nazir reminded Ahmadi Muslims: “You are our ambassadors. You should walk around in this land with peace, and project the true meaning of Islam,” Nazir said. “Islam has been hijacked. Islam is in great trouble. People are attacking this land because Muslims themselves are killing Muslims. That is the struggle we face. This is the jihad; this is the fight that we are fighting. This is the jihad that we will continue to fight, because this is the jihad that’s worth fighting.”

On the second day, long-serving Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion addressed a packed hall, shortly after receiving the coveted Sir Zafrulla Khan Award for Exemplary Public Service, named after the Muslim world’s most successful statesman. Upon acceptance of the award Mayor McCallion said, “World leaders have not been able to solve the world’s problem. It is going to take the leaders of the world’s faiths to solve these problems.”

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau also spoke at the convention on Saturday.  In an exclusive interview with Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA) Canada Studios, Trudeau reflected on his relationship with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at.  He also spoke fondly of multiculturalism, adding that the Ahmadiyya motto, Love for All, Hatred for None encompasses Canadian values: “You can say the values of Love for All, Hatred for None are very much Canadian values, so to be a Canadian you just have to ascribe to those values.”

In his closing address, the President of the community, Mr. Lal Khan Malik spoke about the responsibilities of the community, “The first and foremost goal of every Ahmadi should be to attain Allah, to develop a loving relationship with Him; to become righteous, to become Godly.”

The Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at has been the premiere peace event of the community and was established by its founder in the late 1800s in India. Today, these conventions are held in over 200 countries each year including Canada, where the community was established in 1966 and has memberships in the tens of thousands nationally.

About the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at is a dynamic, fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans over 200 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace.