By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama-â„¢at -” Sri Lanka.

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama-â„¢at and Fifth Khalifa addressed a congregation of more than 4,000 at Sydney’s Baitul Huda Mosque on 6^th October 2013 as he delivered the concluding address at the 29^th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) Australia.

‚ Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the spiritual leader of millions of Ahmadi Muslims worldwide, spoke of -ËœJihad-â„¢ in the modern era – saying the circumstances of today-â„¢s world did not permit any form of violent Jihad.

‚  Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

‚ -In this era, with the advent of the Promised Messiah, the -ËœJihad of the Sword-â„¢ has been entirely eradicated. Today it is the -ËœJihad of the Pen-â„¢ that is the need of the time.-

‚ Elaborating, His Holiness said that recently in Singapore he met with a group of Indonesian dignitaries one of whom suggested that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat did not believe in Jihad. His Holiness said he responded by saying:

‚ -We firmly believe in Jihad, however the type of Jihad required in the modern era has changed. At this time no Government or organisation is physically attacking Islam in the name of religion. If Islam is being attacked today it is not by the sword but through the press, through the media and through preaching. And so it is the need of the time that we respond using the very same means. That is what the Promised Messiah taught -” to fight with our pens and not with our swords.-

‚ Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad went onto describe how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama-â„¢at alone was defending Islam in the proper and peaceful way.

‚ His Holiness said:

‚ -The publication of the Quran and its translation into various languages is being conducted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama-â„¢at. Similarly, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama-â„¢at alone is publishing persuasive literature defending Islam. And today a vast means of preaching is MTA (Muslim TV Ahmadiyya International), which is conveying the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat 24 hours a day in multiple languages. Certainly, it is having a very positive effect in the world whereby even non-Ahmadi Muslims are learning the true teachings of Islam for the very first time through our channel.-

‚ The Concluding Address was followed by a Ba-â„¢ait ceremony in which various people joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama-â„¢at, whilst thousands of others renewed their pledge of allegiance to Ahmadiyyat at the hand of the Khalifa.

‚ During the three-day Convention, His Holiness also addressed members of the Ladies Auxiliary Association (Lajna Imaillah). During his address, His Holiness spoke of the importance of marriage in Islam and said it was essential that spouses care and love one another. He said righteousness and mutual trust were the cornerstones for a successful marriage.

‚ Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also explained the basis for the Islamic injunction of Hijab. He said that through observing Hijab, Muslim women were able to reach the highest standards of modesty and piety and thus it was a means of attaining the blessings of God Almighty.