Growing Gathering Spreads Message of Peace at Jalsa Salana

This weekend, a message of peace and unity is taking center stage in Belize. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is once again opening its doors to the wider community with its eleventh annual Jalsa Salana, a religious convention focused on understanding and togetherness. What started just over a decade ago as a modest gathering has grown into the country’s largest Islamic conference, welcoming Belizeans of all faiths to listen, learn, and connect.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

For the eleventh consecutive year, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at gathered in Belize City for Jalsa Salana. It is a spiritual conference that promotes faith, fellowship, and dialogue. Originally introduced in Belize in 2015, the event has grown significantly. According to the community, what started with just a few dozen participants now attracts hundreds of Belizeans from all walks of life.

 

Arslan Warraich, National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at

“You should appreciate that this Jalsa Salana for which you have gathered once again is not a place for materialistic gains for recreation. Rather, its purpose is for you to partake of its spiritual atmosphere for the sake of your moral reformation. This unique gathering offers you the opportunity to purify your hearts and mind and to improve your spiritual and moral condition.”

 

Jalsa Salana is not solely a religious observance, but an outreach initiative aimed at correcting misconceptions about Islam and highlighting the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s guiding principle. Through the years politicians have made attending the event a priority. This year was no different.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“I believe that the Ahmadiyyah Community are doing a really good job ibn Belize. A part from the religion, they are constantly reaching out to our young people and the needy and we need more of that, that we can have organizations, be it religious or not, that can reach out. The Ahmadiyyah group in Belize is a great example of while they are preaching their religion, it is not something they are pushing. They are reaching out to young people and others to show that there is always another way.”

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“I want to commend the Ahmadiyyah group for their work with the youths in the basketball tournaments. My team has won three of those tournaments. It’s a young group I have and they continue to win. I want to extend upgradations for the great work you continue to do in Belize.”

 

The multi‑day conference features educational lectures, inter‑faith discussions, exhibitions on Islamic history, and family‑oriented activities, including sessions specifically designed for women and youth. Organizers say the eleventh observance builds on the success of the tenth anniversary celebration held last year, which emphasized Islam as a religion grounded in peace and service to humanity.

 

Arslan Warraich

“The promised Messiah, may  peace be upon him, have stated as follows, do not consider this gathering to be the same as the like of any other worldly gathering, rather the case of this is such that it is founded on the pure support of truth, and the propagation of Islam, the foundation stone of this community has been laid by Allah, the almighty himself.”

 

As the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at marks eleven years of hosting Jalsa Salana in Belize, the message remains consistent, unity through understanding and peace through respect. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: