48. Jalsa Salana: Ahmadiyya community gathers in Mendig

48. Jalsa Salana: Ahmadiyya community gathers in Mendig

From Friday from Friday, the airfield in Mendig, in the picturesque Eifel, will be the scene of an impressive event when around 50,000 believers come together to form the annual Jalsa Salana of the German Ahmadiyya community. Preparations have been in full swing for days. There is a work everywhere on the site, while volunteers and Danial Ahmad Shaheen from Berlin actively tackle to prepare the tent city. He and his 14 companions arrived in Mendig on Saturday and helped a lot to build the various structures.

The atmosphere is busy and full of anticipation. "It was a lot of work at the beginning," says Danial, "really muscle strength, which has flowed in here." At the moment, the helpers are concentrating on organizing the luggage acceptance while the IT infrastructure is being set up so that everything is efficient when the first participants arrive.

traditional values and gender separated areas

An important characteristic of Jalsa Salana is gender separation, which can be clearly seen in the tent city. The event is organized so that there are separate areas for men and women. Zubaria Ahmad, one of the organizers from the community's women's organization, explains: "We do not see this as a restriction, but as a relief." This protected space allows women to move more freely, take their headscarves and feel good.

The strict compliance with gender separation has its origin in the traditional Islamic values to which the Ahmadis rely on. SWR religion expert Ulrich Pick emphasizes: "The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat has conservative ethical beliefs, but also strives for a strong social engagement." This is not only shown in their internal structures, but also in the identification of the municipality with the Basic Law.

The 48th Jalsa Salana marks an important social event by coming together the Ahmadiyya community in order not only to discuss religious topics, but also to live community values. From Friday to Sunday, lectures on relevant social issues, prayers and meals will be on the program. The first big event opens with the Friday prayer and a sermon of the caliph, which is transmitted live from London.

The preparations for such a big event are enormous. Shaban Khan from Cologne tells of the long nights that many helpers need to take: "I always came home after midnight and started again in the morning." This work is a real matter of the heart for the participants. It is the devotion to the community that welds people together and enables them to be active through tiredness and lack of sleep.

a special year for the Ahmadiyya community

The decision to hold the event for the first time at the Mendig airfield reflects the growth and adaptability of the German Ahmadiyya community. As part of a global community that celebrated its 100th anniversary in Germany in 2023, this meeting shows both the deep roots in tradition and a progressive attitude that supports members in their integration.

In Mendig, the participants will not only have the opportunity to deepen religious topics, but also to experience an atmosphere of the community and solidarity. The fact that Jalsa Salana takes place in a new place this year symbolizes the dynamics and the willingness of the community to develop further. It is a step that shows that the Ahmadiyya community is determined to dynamically carry its spiritual and social values into the future.

Important information about the event

• event location: Mendig airfield in the Eifel number of participants: around 50,000 believers
• Start: Friday, August 22, 2024
• main program: lectures, prayers, community dinner

The history of the Ahmadiyya community in Germany

The Ahmadiyya community was founded in India in the 19th century and spread worldwide in the following decades. The municipality has been active in Germany since 1924. Over the years, the Ahmadis often had to experience discrimination and persecution in their homeland, which made them spread their teachings in other countries. In Germany there are now numerous communities that actively work for inter -religious dialogue and social integration. The Ahmadiyya community sees itself as a reformed current within Islam and attaches great importance to peace, tolerance and education.

The first German Ahmadi Muslims often came from the British colonial area and campaigned for the rights of their fellow human beings. With the establishment of mosques and cultural centers, they have created a platform to make their religion and culture known.

economic and social commitment of the Ahmadiyya community

The Ahmadiyya community is known for its strong social commitment. This is shown in numerous initiatives that aim to support the support of education and intercultural exchange. An example of this is the national campaign "What a beautiful day", which is carried out annually to help disadvantaged families and support local projects.

In addition, the municipality is also involved in environmental protection and sustainable development. Through various programs and initiatives, such as planting trees or organizing clean -up actions in nature, the community tries to make a positive contribution to society and to draw attention to the importance of environmental protection.

Current statistics on the Ahmadiyya community

Current estimates by the Ahmadiyya community show that over 10 million supporters worldwide belong to the community. There are an estimated 40,000 members in Germany. The municipality is actively committed to promoting integration and interreligious dialogue, and has launched numerous projects in recent years to strengthen understanding between different cultures and religions.

The meetings, such as the Jalsa Salana, not only attract members of the community, but also interested visitors for various backgrounds, which leads to a further exchange of ideas and thoughts.

social context and challenges

The Ahmadiyya community in Germany is also faced with challenges, like many other religious communities. Despite the legal equality in the Basic Law, there are always prejudices and misunderstandings towards the Ahmadi Muslims. Their constant emphasis on peace and tolerance is often not adequately perceived or misunderstood in parts of society.

A particularly sensitive topic is gender separation that is used at its annual meeting. Critics complain as a restriction of women's rights, while the community itself insists that these traditions are part of their faith and contribute to strengthening women in a protected space.

These challenges require continuous awareness of the values and beliefs of the Ahmadiyya community in order to promote harmonious togetherness and mutual respect.