Thousands gather to mark return of Ahmadiyya Muslim leader to Canada

Thousands of Ahmadiyya Muslims gathered at a mosque in Maple, Ont. on Monday to welcome the arrival of their caliph, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, on his first visit to Canada in four years.

He arrived in Canada from the United Kingdom, where he is based.

Blawal Aleem, a spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, told CBC News that the visit of the spiritual leader of tens of millions is especially significant this year as the community celebrates 50 years of establishment in Canada, with some 80 chapters from British Columbia all the way to Newfoundland.

"Islam is being viewed in a very negative light these days so his address and his words really clear the path to show people what the true peaceful message of Islam really is," Aleem said. 

The group's present leader, affectionally dubbed the "Huzoor," — meaning "present one," is the fifth successor following the death of its founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who died in 1908. Ahmadiyya Muslims consider Mirza Masroor Ahmad to be the current living representative of the Prophet Muhammad.​

He regularly delivers addresses emphasizing peace and justice around the world, community member Abdul Hadi told CBC News. 

Hadi is hopeful that the caliph's message will reverberate in Canada at a time when he says "the world situation has changed and world peace is in jeopardy."

"There are certain sections which are extremist and they are killing innocent people in the name of religion so they have sort of hjiacked the religion of Islam."

"We always maintain that these extremists don't follow any teachings. These people are not part of Islam."

The community will be holding a convention this week from Friday to Sunday. Several thousand are expected to attend.