Last winter I went to Qadian with my family. We went to India through the Wagah Border from Pakistan and we then took a taxi from Amritsar to Qadian. It was my first ever time going there, and I was very excited. When we got there, we were very lucky to be staying in Darul Masih which was the home of the Promised Messiah (as) and his family. From our room we had an amazing view of Minaratul Masih.
On our first day we had a tour of Darul Masih which included: Masjid Mubarak, Masjid Aqsa, the room where the Promised Messiah (as) was born and other famous places in the history of Jama’at. Every day we would go to Bahishti Maqbara to pray at the grave of the Promised Messiahas and his companions. Every evening, I would go and offer nafl prayer in different places in Darul Masih with my mum.
Our last three days in Qadian were the three days of Jalsa. On each morning of the Jalsa we would walk from Darul Masih to the Jalsa Gah with some of our family members. The Jalsa gah in Qadian is a little different to the one in England because in Qadian it is in the open air and it is cold because as Jalsa is held in the winter. In England the Jalsa is held in a huge marquee and as Jalsa UK is normally held in the summer it tends to be very hot. There were however a few things that were similar to the Jalsa in England – for example, both Jalsas are for three days, they have speeches and nazms and you have to have your badges scanned and your bags checked.
Because it was the winter, we had to wear hats, scarfs, gloves and coats as unlike the Jalsa in England it was freezing (we even had to wear these when were asleep as it was so cold!). For each day of Jalsa, my cousins and I would bring massive goodie bags and we used to share all the drinks, fruit, chocolate and crisps between us. In the evenings my family and I would go to the bazaar to buy ourselves some treats.
I had an amazing time in Qadian and I hope to be able to go back again soon, inshAllah.
Article by Sabuh Khan, Age 10
