Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat arrives in Kerala, India
The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad arrived last night in the Southern Indian State of Kerala. The visit has led to great excitement and joy within the Ahmadiyya Jamaat Kerala and has also attracted a great deal of press and media interest.
Today, His Holiness visited the Bait-ul-Qudoos Mosque in the centre of Calicut City. Greeted by thousands of Ahmadi men, women and children, His Holiness unveiled a plaque commemorating the event. Speaking to the gathered Ahmadis he said:
"Through Allah's Grace you have all accepted the claim of the Promised Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. It is now up to you to continually develop in virtue so that your good example is there for all of the people of Kerala to see. I hope and pray that you continue to manifest the goodness that allowed you and your forefathers to accept Ahmadiyyat."
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Kerala was founded in 1900 when Abdul Qadir Kutty became the first person to accept the claim of the Promised Messiah. Thus, as in the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) people in Kerala came to accept Islam, also in the life of the Promised Messiah did people come to accept Ahmadiyyat.
Local Ahmadis could barely contain their heartfelt joy. Shams-ud-Din from nearby Kannur said that today was a day of history as it was the first time in the history of Islam that a Khalifa had visited Kerala. Young children sang songs of joy expressing their great happiness. Farhan Latif, 12, said:
"I do not have the words to express how I feel. Only I know what I am feeling. Whenever I see Hazur (His Holiness) it makes me feel closer to Allah and also to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)."
Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad arrived in India at 4.40am on Sunday 23 November 2008 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Dehli. The main purpose of his tour of India is to address the Annual Convention of the Jamaat in Qadian from 26-29th December 2008. This event will conclude the year long Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya Centenary celebrations.
End of Release
For further information:
Abid Khan, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community [press@ahmadiyya.org.uk]