Huzur commented that the success of the Jamaat depended upon its unity.
The Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad today concluded the 86th Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Bangladesh. His Holiness concluded the event with a powerful address delivered via satellite link live from the Mahmood Hall at the Fazl Mosque premises in South West London. During his address, His Holiness spoke about the continued success of the Jamaat in Bangladesh in spite of years of ongoing persecution.
His Holiness commented that the success of the Jamaat depended upon its unity. Each Ahmadi, he said, should help his brother or sister and through this the Jamaat’s strength would become such that no opponent would be able to cause it any harm. He said that in the eyes of the world the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was weak, however the Promised Messiah was a recipient of God’s Help and that Help remained to this very day and would forever remain with those who accept the Founder of the Jamaat.
His Holiness then commented about persecution in Bangladesh. He said:
“Every Ahmadi in Bangladesh knows of the efforts made by our opponents to try and finish the Jamaat. Yet have they been successful? Over the last 20-25years the persecution has continued to increase; the opponents have left no avenue open in their pursuit of the Jamaat, yet the Jamaat has always continued to march forward towards success.”
His Holiness spoke about specific atrocities committed against the Jamaat in various parts of Bangladesh. Ahmadi mosques had been repeatedly overtaken in Brahmanbaria under the orders of extremist elements and in 1999 seven Ahmadis were killed whilst attending Friday prayers at the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Khulna. His Holiness said that the sacrifices borne by Ahmadis would never be in vain and that those very sacrifices would ultimately prove to be gateways towards great success. He said:
“Remember that all spiritual revolutions occur through sacrifice. Love always wins; truth always prevails.”
His Holiness described how the increased persecution of the Jamaat in Bangladesh was due to the influence of Mullahs from Pakistan. Having destroyed the peace of their own country through their vitriol and hatred, these Mullahs had now targeted other Muslim countries and Bangladesh was an easy target due to its proximity with Pakistan. However despite the best efforts of the Mullahs to spread hatred, His Holiness praised certain elements within the Bangladeshi media and judiciary who had refused to accept the ill-treatment of the Jamaat. His Holiness said their goodness would be rewarded by God and that whilst it remained the country too would be safeguarded from the destruction now seen in Pakistan.
His Holiness ended his address by counselling all Ahmadis to always show patience in the face of adversity or opposition. He said that it was important that Ahmadis sought closeness to God Almighty and through this they would remain ever protected.