National Mosque Fund

Foundation work started in February
2012. By September 13, 2012, all the
walls of the Mosque were raised. Minaret
insertion started on October 17, 2012,
and finally, by May 2013, the City of Delta
granted all necessary building occupancy
permits to use the Mosque for worship
and meetings.
Vancouver Jamā‘at members then
waited anxiously for their Imām,
Hazrat Khalīfatul-Masīḥ V aa , with great
enthusiasm. Jalsa Sālāna Western
Canada 2013 was also planned with the
inauguration of the Mosque. Finally,
the day came for the arrival of Huzoor aa ,
and local members of the Jamā‘at, along
with members from all across Canada,
gathered to welcome our Beloved
Huzoor aa .
On May 15, 2013, National Amīr Ṣāḥib
and selected National ‘Āmila members,
Regional Amīr Ṣāḥib and Lutfur Rahman
Khan Ṣāḥib welcomed Huzoor aa at the
airport while the rest of the Jamā‘at
waited anxiously for his arrival at the
Mosque.
The Honourable Jason Kenny,
then Minister of Multiculturalism
and Citizenship Canada, greeted
Hazrat Khalīfatul-Masīḥ V aa at the
Vancouver International Airport.
Huzoor’s aa motorcade, escorted by
Vancouver Police, arrived at the Mosque
at 8:00 PM and was greeted by thousands
of Aḥmadīs. Our hearts were filled with
joy after seeing our beloved master in
the Mosque. Slogans of Allāhu Akbar were
raised and tears of joy filled our eyes.
Words could not express our emotions.
The Mosque took 16 years to complete
Masjid Baitur Rahman, Vancouver, BC
since its inception in 1997 and the
moment had finally come to present our
Mosque to Hazrat Khalīfatul-Masīḥ V aa .
Huzoor aa met a number of members and
entered the Mosque to lead the Ṣalāt.
On the second day, May 16, 2013, Huzoor aa
spent most of the day in meetings with
families, classes and other programs. On
Friday, May 17, 2013, Huzoor aa addressed
the Jamā‘at and said: “Today, by the Grace
of Allāh, the Aḥmadīyya Muslim Jamā‘at
of British Columbia has been blessed with
the ability to build a Mosque.”
Huzoor aa advised members of the
Vancouver Jamā‘at:
“We have to make use of every effort
to establish Ṣalāt and fill the Mosques
for this purpose in such a way that they
begin to appear to be too small.”
Jalsa Sālāna Western Canada 2013 was
held on May 18 and 19 at the newly built
Masjid Baitur Rahman in Delta, British
Columbia. Members of the Jamā‘at from
all over Canada came to see our beloved
Huzoor aa . A good number of USA Jamā‘at
members also attended the Jalsa.
Significant highlights included an
inauguration ceremony with the highest
media and non-Aḥmadī guests in
attendance, led by the Media and Tablīgh
team of Jalsa Sālāna Western Canada in
Vancouver. Approximately 670 guests
attended the reception and gave a very
warm welcome to Huzoor aa as he entered
the Jalsa Gah.
The following dignitaries addressed the
audience, congratulated the Aḥmadīyya
Muslim Jamā‘at Canada on building
Masjid Baitur Rahman, and appreciated
the Jamā‘at’s role in promoting peace
and harmony:
- Her Worship Lois Jackson, Mayor of
Delta
- Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay, MP
- Dr. Andrew P. W. Bennett,
Ambassador for Religious Freedom
- Senator Mobina Jaffer
- Her Worship Susan Fennell, Mayor of
Brampton
- Hon. Judy Sgro, MP
- Hon. Jinny Sims, MP
- Hon. Jim Karygiannis, MP
- Hon. Rob Norris, MLA Saskatchewan
- Hon. (late) Manmeet Bhullar, MLA
Alberta
- Councillor Marilyn Iafrate, City of
Vaughan and
- Councillor Ron Starr, City of
Mississauga.
Amīr Jamā‘at Canada, Respected Lal Khan
Malik Ṣāḥib, also addressed the audience
and requested Hazrat Khalīfatul-Masīh
V aa to deliver the keynote address.
In his address, Huzoor aa thanked the
guests for attending the Baitur Rahman
Inauguration Reception. Huzoor aa
said that this new Mosque would
Insha’Allāh help to remove some of the
misunderstandings and reservations
about Islām.
On Sunday, May 19, 2013, Huzoor aa graced
the awards ceremony with his blessed
presence. Eight of the Jāmi‘a Aḥmadīyya
Canada graduates received their degrees
from the blessed hands of Huzoor aa . He
also gave certificates to three young
graduates of Ḥifẓul Qur’ān School and
‘Alm ‘In‘āmī certificates to the top
three Majālis of Ansārullāh, Khuddāmul
Aḥmadīyya, and Atfālul Aḥmadīyya. The
ceremony concluded with educational
awards for academic achievements.
Huzoor aa delivered the concluding
address. He started by reciting verses 72
to 74 of chapter 25 of the Holy Qur’ān.
Huzoor aa said an Aḥmadī claims to be a
follower of the Promised Messiah as with
the understanding that he would improve
upon his state of affairs. We should always
be mindful of whether or not we are
progressing in our relationship with God.
Then Huzoor aa related some quotes from
the writings of the Promised Messiah as
highlighting the moral and spiritual
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