Email

Print

Sahar Vasquez reporting
September 11, 2001- 2,977 people were killed in 9/11

April 15, 2013- 264 people were wounded in the Boston Marathon Bombing

June 12th, 2016- 49 people were killed in Orlando night club shooting

These are just a few of the most gruesome terrorist attacks to ever be recorded and those responsible for the deaths of countless innocent men, women, and children were all muslims.

Their horrific actions created a stigma not just on the Islam, but on those Muslims who have no affiliation with ISIS or any extremist group.

I had my own struggles with Islamophobia but, on a recent trip to the UK, I found them to be exceptionally kind and gracious.

Every year the Ahmadiyya muslims hold a convention called Jalsa Salana. The Jalsa are held all over the world but this year's biggest Jalsa was in London. Almost 40,000 people gathered on a massive farm that was transformed into a small village.

The attendees were not only muslims, there were politicians, journalists, and regular people from all over the world - including the Belize city Mayor - who were invited to experience what Jalsa has to offer.

Belize was one of 200 nations that was represented and the Ahmadiyya president of Belize firmly believes that the event is an eye opener of positive shock for all attendees.

Naveed Mangla, Ahmadiyya President- Belize
"I feel that we are honored amongst the 200 nations that are being represented here you see the Belizean flag that we have. We have been coming here for the last four years or so and the purpose is to bring our journalists and our government officials here is that I know that there is a lot of negative influence that the media has about Islam especially of some of the extremist muslims are doing in the world. We believe that 99.9 percent of muslims are peaceful people but we can preach all we want but unless a person comes here and sees it for themselves it will not have the same impact so the whole purpose of bringing the delegation is so that people can come here and see for themselves how the muslims are amongst themselves."

And how they are at this event, is loving, compassionate and generous.

This was the first time newly elected Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner attended a Jalsa and for him it was an experience he would never forget because of the powerful lessons he learnt.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"It is my first time here and this gave me an oppurtunity to really experience what the Ahmidiyya community is all about. It is all about showing brotherhood displaying that love for God and also displaying that love for each other and for humanity."

"Certainly what stood out for me was the engagement of the youths and certainly I would want to have this same type pf brotherhood, this same type of service to humanity being harnessed within our Belize City Community and areas."

Abdul Qzdusarif, IMAM- Ahmadiyya UK
"The answer is quite simple we are not doing it for any self glorification. It is more for the reward you want to receive from God. Allah says in the Holy Quran that you should serve my people, serve man kind, we believe that if we are inviting people towards a peaceful teaching and we are inviting people from across the world we should care for them as well because they have gone out of there way to accept or invitation so we should try our level best to accommodate them however we can to do the best of our ability and in essence the reward is from God alone and we are not doing it for any personal gain."

Shakil Merza, Ahmadiyya Muslim- Canada
"Volunteering you dont get paid for it but you know it is not always about the money it is sometimes giving up your time is very valuable and it depends on where you prioritize your time."

Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"So you are volunterring here?"

Volunteers
"Yes."

Sahar Vasquez
"Are you enjoying it?"

Volunteers
"Yes."

Sahar Vasquez
"Why?"

Volunteers
"Because you get to serve and it is fun."

Sahar Vasquez
"Ok and is this your first Jalsa your working?"

Volunteers
"No I worked last year as well."

Sahar Vasquez
"So what do you guys do? What are your responsibilities?"

Volunteers
"You basically have to serve and you have to fill the plates when they are empty."

Tanzeel Volunteer
"I am writing everyone who is volunteering for water duty."

Sahar Vasquez
"How come your doing this, don't you want to be playing video games or something like that? Are you happy to be here?"

Tanzeel, Volunteer
"Yes."

Sahar Vasquez
"Why?"

Tanzeel, Volunteer
"Because I am helping a lot of people."

But perhaps the most touching part of the event was the Ba'ait. It's a paramount moment where all Ahmadiyyas come together and re-pledge there allegiance to their religion with the their leader, who is referred to as "His Holiness" guiding them through the emotional ceremony.

The Jalsa Salana is spread out over three days but it only takes one day for a person to realize how benevolent and benign true Islam can be.

The Ahmadiyya president of Belize has been taking Belizean politicians and journalists to different Jalsas for the past four years.

Last year PUP Caribbean Shores representative Kareem Musa along with former city councilor Dion Leslie attended one in Canada.