Jalsa
Salana, Australia
The Annual Convention

History
in the making - Huzur's Visit to Australia 2006
Day
14 Highlights - 24/04/06
Visit
to Opera House:
-
On
the 24th of April 2006, Huzur (aba) left for the City with his
entourage from Baitul Huda Mosque at 12:10pm.
-
Huzur
(aba) arrived at the Sydney Opera House at 12:55pm where he
was met and greeted by the tour guide for the day.
-
The
tour guide gave Huzur (aba) a short historical background on
the Opera House as he was making his way inside.
-
The
NSW State Government upon the design of a renowned Danish architect,
Jorn Utzon, built this Australian Icon. It cost 102 million
Australian Dollars to build and it was first opened in 1973
by Queen Elizabeth II. It has 5 theatres that together stage
around 1500 performances a year.
-
Huzur
(aba) was led into the smallest theatre first. This theatre
only holds up to 400 people and is mainly used for children
plays and dramas. The next theatre or Studio Room was where
the Opera House conducts its own shows. Here more modern performances
are staged and are targeted at the age group between 18 and
35.
-
The
3rd theatre shown to Huzur (aba) was the Drama Room, which has
a capacity of 550 persons. This was initially used for contemporary
modern art performances, but is now used for various plays,
dramas and modern artistic performances. It is also the home
of the Sydney Theatre Company. An interesting point mentioned
by the tour guide here was that the front row seats in this
theatre were below sea level.
-
Then
the tour guide took His Holiness to the outer area offering
the beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. While walking,
Huzur (aba) was briefed with some more historical information
on the Opera House.
-
As
the tour continued back inside the Opera House, Huzur (aba)
was shown inside the 4th theatre, where the Australian Ballet
Group was rehearsing.
-
The
tour guide highlighted the architectural wonder of the Opera
House that pushed the limits of engineering at the time it was
built. He pointed out to the shells that were radiating upwards
inside the Opera House. These were made of concrete and then
covered in tiles. All the roof sections are held together by
350 of tensioned steel cable.
-
Huzur
(aba) enquired about the life span of the Opera House and the
tour guide mentioned that this structure would easily last for
around 300 years.
-
Huzur
(aba) was then taken inside the last and largest theatre of
the Opera House. This theatre can hold up to 2700 persons.
-
Huzur
(aba) then enjoyed the view of the harbour from inside the Opera
House, as everyone else got ready for Zuhr and Asr prayers.
Huzur (aba) then led Zuhr/Asr prayers at 1:40pm from inside
the Opera House.
-
As
the tour guide escorted Huzur (aba) outside of the Opera House,
group photos were taken outside the Opera House with the Sydney
Harbour Bridge and the harbour in the background. Photos were
also taken on the steps of the Opera House and with the City
in the background as well.
-
His
Holiness also took his own personal video of the Opera House
from outside and the whole view of the Sydney harbour. Huzur
(aba) then walked to the 'Aria Restaurant' just in front of
the Opera House at East Circular Quay at 2:20pm for lunch.
-
This
restaurant is situated on the very edge of Sydney harbour offering
panoramic views of the Harbour. Huzur (aba), his staff and various
members of the Jamaat enjoyed a main course meal and dessert
before leaving the restaurant at 3:55pm.
Visiting Royal
Botanic Gardens:
-
His
Holiness then walked towards the Royal Botanic Gardens and entered
the Gardens at 4pm. Before going on a walk through the Gardens,
Huzur (aba) relaxed for a while with his wife, Hazrat Appa Jaan
Sahiba, having tea and some snacks.
-
Huzur
(aba) then went for a walk through the Gardens and continued
to take shots of the beautiful views present from his personal
video camera.
-
Huzur
(aba) stopped at a particular spot in the Gardens where there
were a number of parrots around. His Holiness very kindly and
patiently fed sunflower seeds to the parrots by his hand.
-
After
walking for around different pathways of the gardens, Huzur
(aba) exited the Royal Botanic Gardens at 5:15pm and he then
left for the City with his entourage at 5:23pm. Huzur
(aba) arrived back at Baitul Huda Mosque at around 6:15pm.
-
After
a short break, Huzur (aba) met with National Ameer and Missionary
Incharge, Maulana Mahmood Ahmad and his family. He also met
another couple of families.
-
Huzur(aba)
also met Michael Al-Masri, the Structural Engineer in regards
to the construction of the Khilafat Centenary Hall, which his
Holiness just blessed with the laying of the foundation stone
a few days ago. Huzur(aba) had a detailed discussion on the
matters relating to the construction of the hall. Huzur (aba)
also offered some valuable advice and guidance in this regard.
Visiting
Ahmadiyya Library:
-
Around
8.20pm, Huzur(aba) visited Ahmadiyya Muslim Library of Australia
upstairs in the mosque. Saqib Mahmood Atif, Head Librarian and
National Secretary Isha'at (Publication) briefed his Holiness
about the Library and answered questions raised by Huzur (aba).
-
Huzur
(aba) viewed the Holy Quran displayed in different languages.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Library of Australia has the translations
of the Holy Quran in 48 different languages. However, the Worldwide
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat has translated the Holy Quran in many
more languagess.
-
Huzur
(aba) also enquired about various books and advised to order
some specific books on the life of the Promised Messiah (as)
as well.
-
Huzur
(aba) was then told about the Library membership system, which
was all computerised. He was also shown a catalogue of all the
books available in the Library to borrow. His Holiness was also
given an honorary membership card of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Library.
Membership cards were also printed and given to Additional Vakilul
Tabshir, Abdul Majid Tahir and Huzur's (aba) Private Secretary,
Munir Ahmad Javed.
-
Huzur
(aba) enquired about the sale of books as well and this system
is also fully computerised.
-
As
this Library did not have an official name, Huzur (aba) very
kindly named the Ahmadiyya Muslim Library of Australia as 'Hassan
Musa Library,' after Sufi Hassan Musa Khan, who was the first
Ahmadi in Australia.
-
Finally,
a photo was taken with Huzur (aba), Ameer Sahib and the Library
Team. The Library Team consists of: Saqib Mahmood Atif, Head
Librarian and Incharge, Syed Fawaz Ahmad, Technical & I.T.
Support plus the creator of the computerised systems for both
the borrowing and selling of books and Syed Tariq Ahmad, Assistant
Librarian.
-
This
last day of Huzur's (aba) historic tour of Australia before
his departure, came to an end with His Holiness leading Maghrib
and Isha prayers at 8:35pm.
Jazakomullah!
Signing off for today, the 24th of April 2006,11:10pm
Syed Tariq Ahmed - Editor News Gents
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