The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Sierra Leone will this morning commence its 59th Jalsa Salana at the Ahmadiyya Muslim School Compound in Bo city.
Under the Distinguished Chief Guest, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Special International Guest and Missionary In-Charge, Ahmadiyya USA, Maulana Azhar Haneef and Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in Sierra Leone, Amir Musa Mewa, the Conference is expected to end on 11th February, 2024.
Amir Musa Mewa said: “By the grace of Allah Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Sierra Leone holds its’ Jalsa Salana every year. A new era of mighty Jalsa Salana began in 2005 when the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone participated in our Jalsa with his ministers. This continued and by the grace of Allah now our Jalsa is a National event of Sierra Leone. Every year the President, Vice President, Ministers and hundreds of Paramount chiefs participate in our Jalsa and the attendance of Jalsa is reaching approximately 23,000”.
He explained that it was 1915, when a righteous person from Sierra Leone Pa Musa K. Gerber started correspondence with Ahmadiyya Headquarter in Qadian (India) and in 1916 joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at.
He said Pa Musa K. Gerber became the first Sierra Leonean to Join Islam Ahmadiyyat. (Khutbat e Tahir vol. 7, p. 138. Friday Sermon 04.03.1988) and in 1916, seven more people joined Ahmadiyyat. (Alfazl 25.11.1916).
Amir Mewa said: “On the command of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad Khalifa tul Masih II (ra) Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyar (a) (a companion of the promised Messiah, (as)) was the first Ahmadiyya Missionary who visited this country in 1921. The foundation which was laid by this companion of the Promised Messiah (as) was later raised by Hakim Fazzl-ur-Rahman Sahib and became a complete strong building by the hands of Alhaj Maulvi Nazir Ahmad Ali. May Allah reward them all.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the second-largest sect of Islam in Sierra Leone, behind only Sunni Islam. The earliest history of the Community in Sierra Leone dates back to the early period of the Second Caliphate, when at least six people are said to have conveyed their adherence to the faith.