Interfaith dialogue a main focus at 38th annual Jalsa Salana Convention in Calgary

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, one of the largest Muslim conventions in Western Canada takes place in Calgary at the Genesis Center this weekend.

This year makes 38th edition of the Jalsa Salana’s Western Canada convention.

“This is the largest and longest-running Muslim convention in Western Canada. Thousands across Canada and around the world will be attending the Jalsa Salana Western Canada. And Canadians from all walks of life here including elected officials, dignitaries, community leaders as well as Indigenous Chiefs will be attending the event,” said Zaki Ahmad a media representative for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

Zaki says the focus this year will be building connections with Indigenous communities committing to interfaith harmony, reconciliation, and an ongoing friendship.

“The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has a long-standing relationship with the Indigenous community. And so at this year’s convention, a special Indigenous prayer will be held to really fulfill the commitment towards interfaith harmony and dialogue,” said Ahmad.

“This is a communal interaction and a communal spiritual rejuvenation through speeches, through workshops, through more dialogues between different communities,” said Ahmad.

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He says there are a number of things that can come from interfaith and community dialogue at the grassroots level to promote understanding and peace, especially considering the state of the world we are experiencing from conflict and wars to famine.

He says the world head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has reminded world leaders through forums like this to turn our responsibilities towards both God as well as to other people and other communities.

“A big part of this Jalsa Salana is to ensure that we uphold our responsibilities to do our utmost, to have a dialogue between communities so we can promote peace and I think that’s one of the root reasons as to why misunderstandings lead to higher conflicts,” said Ahmad.

He says that the goal of this convention is to restore peace and build bridges between the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and other communities including the Indigenous community.

Thousands are expected to attend today at the Genesis Centre from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

–With files from Adeline Gladu