Prophetic Arcs, Shiva’s Third Eye, Notes Inside A Holy Wall, & More: Jalsa Salana Ghana 2025 RoR Q&A
(Jalsa Salana Ghana 2025)
Introduction
In a world where faiths often seem to divide The Review of Religions exhibition during the 92nd Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) in Ghana aimed to unite. The exhibition celebrated the stark similarities of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, focusing on how these diverse traditions harmonize. Before making the connection with Islam, fascinating facts about these religions were shared, sparking lively discussions on the mysteries, histories, and beliefs of these religions.
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A Celebration of Unity and Shared Values
Walking through the bustling corridor of the Review of Religions Stand, I witnessed the power of faith in uniting people. The exhibition centre was filled with hundreds of visitors from diverse backgrounds as they got captivated by the interactive displays and insightful presentations. The theme, “Prophetic Arcs: Tracing the Path of World Faiths to Islam,” resonated with attendees.
This exhibition featured four interactive booths, highlighting the shared values and principles of five major world faiths. Visitors began their journey at the “Wheel of Discovery” booth which welcomed them to the theme of the exhibition. This led them to explore how the Eastern faiths (Hinduism, Buddhism) — at the “Eastern Enlightenment” booth, and Abrahamic faiths (Christianity and Judaism) — at the “Roots to Monotheism” booth, are linked to Islam. The next stop was the “Prophetic Quest” booth, where guests’ knowledge was put to test through intriguing questions and insightful discussions, divided into three parts: puzzles, multiple-choice questions and written questions.
Questions and Discussions
At booths 2 and 3, visitors asked thoughtful questions, sparking thought-provoking discussions on the connections between various faiths and Islam.
For instance, one visitor asked, “Why is there a third eye on Shiva’s face? Is it real?” The host explained, “The third eye on Shiva’s face, as believed by the Hindus, symbolizes spiritual wisdom and insight — representing the ability to see beyond the physical world and into the spiritual realm.”
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Another participant inquired, “Isn’t it biased to claim that all other religions were corrupted except Islam?” The host responded thoughtfully, “Islam acknowledges the truth and wisdom in previous scriptures and faiths. However, it also teaches that over time, these religions became corrupted by human error and innovation. Islam emphasizes the importance of preserving the original teachings as conveyed by all prophets.” This highlighted the inclusive nature of Islam’s teachings.
A question about the significance of the “Wailing Wall” in Judaism and why they insert paper notes in the wall was beautifully explained. The host shared, “The Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall, is a sacred site for Jewish prayer and a holy site for reflection. It is the last remaining wall of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and holds deep historical and spiritual significance for Jews worldwide. Jews insert papers with prayers and wishes into the cracks of the wall, believing that their prayers are more likely to be answered when placed in walls of this holy site.” This sparked a lively discussion on the Judaism and its connection with Islam.
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An eager participant enquired about the “Hanukkah”, and what its significance is in Judaism. The host highlighted, “Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the 2nd century BCE. He added that this festival celebrates the miracle of the Temple’s menorah (a seven-branched candelabrum) which the Jews believe burnt for eight days on a small amount of oil, symbolizing faith, perseverance, and the triumph of light over darkness.”
“If Christianity and Judaism are not recognized religions by God, why are they mentioned in the Holy Qur’an?” was yet another profound question asked by a visitor. The host answered by saying, that Christianity and Judaism are indeed recognized by God. The Holy Qur’an acknowledges these religions and their prophets, affirming the truth and wisdom in their original teachings. Consequently, the Holy Qur’an aims to revive the authentic teachings delivered by all prophets.
Questions like “Were Gautama Buddha and Krishna prophets?” also stood out. The host explained, “In their respective traditions, Gautama Buddha and Krishna are revered as enlightened beings and divine figures. Islam recognizes the truth in their teachings and their contributions to spiritual wisdom. The Promised Messiah (as) has affirmed the truthfulness of all religions, stating that all prophets reflect the same divine light.”
(Jalsa Salana Ghana 2025)
The hosts’ impressive explanations at the various booths were crystal clear as they discussed these questions. They beautifully clarified how, according to Islam, all religions were originally pure and true, but over time, they became corrupted. This understanding is reflected in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an:
کَانَ النَّاسُ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً ۟ فَبَعَثَ اللّٰہُ النَّبِیّٖنَ مُبَشِّرِیۡنَ وَمُنۡذِرِیۡنَ ۪ وَاَنۡزَلَ مَعَہُمُ الۡکِتٰبَ بِالۡحَقِّ لِیَحۡکُمَ بَیۡنَ النَّاسِ فِیۡمَا اخۡتَلَفُوۡا فِیۡہِ
“Mankind were one community, then they differed among themselves, so Allah raised Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and sent down with them the Book containing the truth that He might judge between the people wherein they differed.” (2:214)
Affirming the Universality of Faiths
The Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), affirmed the truthfulness of all religions and emphasised that prophets were sent to different nations with teachings suited to their cultural contexts, guiding humanity towards righteousness. The Holy Qur’an teaches:
وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِیۡ کُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ رَّسُوۡلًا اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ وَاجۡتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوۡتَ
“And We did raise among every people a Messenger, preaching: ‘Worship Allah and shun the Evil One.’” (16:37)
This shows that Allah has sent prophets to every part of the world and that no nation has been left without guidance, even if the message and the teachings were corrupted later on.
Islam teaches that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) was sent by God as the final law-bearing prophet to restore and perfect these teachings, uniting divine messages and emphasizing love, peace, and righteousness, as reflected in the Holy Qur’an.
(Jalsa Salana Ghana 2025)
Conclusion
Reflecting on the questions and discussions, I was amazed by the profound impact of The Review of Religions exhibition. It was a powerful reminder that, despite our differences in faith, our roots are all connected to that one true God. Thinking ahead to Jalsa Salana 2026, the thought of immersing myself once more in such engaging and insightful activities with The Review of Religions fills me with excitement. I can’t wait to see how these experiences will yet again capture the hearts of visitors and convey the universal message of Islam, all while building on the divine legacy of the Promised Messiah (as).
About the author: Jamal Sononam Jnr. Lambon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration, majoring in Accounting. He is a Certified Chartered Accountant currently engaged with the NGO Rikolto International, Ghana.
