This year, Jalsa Salana, the Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA will take place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from Friday, the 13th of July through Sunday the 15th of July. I am looking forward to this event.
This Annual Convention is a unique gathering for promotion of peace and tolerance and improving one's spirituality. Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, his Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad in his Friday Sermon on September 7th, 2012 said, “The fundamental purpose of this Jalsa is that through it such a community should be prepared or come into being that should always be increasing its knowledge and cognizance of God Almighty; in whom the fear of God should begin to grow; in whom piety and righteousness should be found developing; who should be always craving for God; who should be found having deep love for each other; whose hearts would be soft and caring and full of love for each other”.
I love speeches from our honored guests and friends of the community travelling from around the country for the event. Children who finish the first recitation of the Holy Qur’an have a ceremony in their honor during the evening programs. This is another favorite segment of the convention for me.
Last year, I attended exclusive classes for children at Jalsa and found them to be a great learning opportunity. I also enjoyed volunteering for food distribution, cooking and cleaning along with hundreds of other volunteers. The spiritual benefits I received were immeasurable. I hope that this year again the convention will help me gain more knowledge than I already have.
Elham Mahmood
13 years old
