The Holy Qur’an instructs Muslims to engage in tabligh, and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) has repeatedly guided members of the Jama’at towards this work. By the grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada was given a valuable opportunity to act on that guidance at the annual Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival, held on June 20 and 21, 2026, at Victoria Park in Kitchener.
Now in its 59th year, the festival is organised by the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre and stands as the region’s largest celebration of cultural diversity, drawing tens of thousands of visitors through its international cuisine, live cultural performances, artisan exhibits, and family activities. This year’s attendance was estimated at around 40,000 visitors from Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding communities of Cambridge, Elmira, Wilmot, Breslau, Ayr, and North Dumfries. The gathering offered an exceptional platform to share the peaceful teachings of Islam and Ahmadiyyat through meaningful conversation.
The Jama’at booths
The Ahmadiyya Majlis Ansarullah was honoured to lead the Jama’at’s participation. Four booths, each ten feet square, gave ample room for an inviting and informative display.
Copies of the Holy Qur’an, Jama’at books, booklets, tabligh flyers, and banners drew a steady flow of visitors across the weekend. The display also highlighted the humanitarian work of the Jama’at, including Humanity First and the Isaar Department. Complimentary snacks and refreshments helped create a welcoming setting for discussion.
Engagement and results
Over roughly fourteen hours of outreach across the two days, missionaries and volunteers took part in more than one hundred meaningful conversations with visitors from a wide range of backgrounds. The team distributed an estimated 500 tabligh flyers and around 100 books and booklets, and gathered some 50 new contacts for future follow-up. By the grace of Allah, these figures exceeded expectations.
Many visitors expressed genuine interest in Islam and Ahmadiyyat and welcomed the chance to ask questions about faith, community, and service. The death of Jesus (as) and his journey to India drew particular interest. Those who stopped by came from the Middle East, Central and South America, South Asia, Europe, Africa, and Canadian communities across the Waterloo Region.
Distinguished guests
Among the visitors to the booths were Chief Mark Crowell of the Waterloo Regional Police Service and Aislinn Clancy, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener Centre, alongside other elected representatives, municipal leaders from the Waterloo Region, faith leaders from several traditions, and community leaders. These conversations helped strengthen relationships and raise the profile of the Jama’at within the wider community.
Volunteers and support
The initiative succeeded through the dedication of many volunteers. Respected Missionary Asef Sial Sahib and Mahboobur Rahman Sahib offered invaluable help through their language skills, enabling engagement with visitors from many cultural backgrounds, and local Respected Missionary Mubashir Badar Sahib played a key role in staffing the booths. The local presidents and leadership of the area Jama’ats, together with member-volunteers from Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph, gave their time to setup, staffing, outreach, and windup throughout the weekend.
We pray that Allah the Almighty opens the hearts of people towards Islam and Ahmadiyyat, blesses the seeds planted through these interactions, and richly rewards all who contributed to this effort. Ameen.
