By the Grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Students’ Association (AMSA) at the University of Calgary successfully hosted its landmark Tabligh event, “Does GOD Exist? – Inspired by Jubilee,” on April 1st, 2026. Taking inspiration from the “Spectrum” format popularized by the YouTube channel Jubilee, the event brought together four panelists representing Islam Ahmadiyyat, Pentecostal Christianity, Advaita Hinduism, and Atheism to engage with provocative prompts on faith and existence. The primary objective was to foster interfaith dialogue while specifically targeting an external, non-Ahmadi audience to introduce them to the beauty of Islam.
The journey toward the event’s success began ten days prior with a rigorous marketing campaign. A total of 375 posters, featuring three distinct designs, were strategically placed on campus bulletin boards before 10:00 AM each morning to capture maximum student traffic. This physical presence was supplemented by two high-intensity Tabligh stalls held at the university’s busiest intersections eight days and two days before the event. Every Ahmadi member that was contacted about the event was encouraged to personally invite at least one to two external guests, like classmates, coworkers, or neighbors. Instead of traditional flyers, 300 business cards were printed with a QR code for registration, as their compact size made them more likely to be kept in wallets for future reference.
Preparation for the event required significant technical innovation, as no existing online platform could accommodate the unique “Jubilee” format envisioned by the team. Over the course of the week leading up to the event, several hours each night were poured into coding, creating, and testing the custom platform (www.doesgodexist.ca). Developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, this custom interface allowed the audience to view live prompts on the main screens while simultaneously allowing panelists to view them from the stage. Most notably, the system provided a real-time visual scale showing where each panelist stood between “Strongly Agree” and “Strongly Disagree.” The night before the event, the team finalized the program flow and hand-crafted 20 physical signs for the panelists, involving a late-night effort of cutting, painting, and assembly to ensure every detail was polished.
The effectiveness of these efforts was reflected in the final attendance figures. On the day of the event, 202 audience members gathered in room ICT 102, exceeding the 197 people who had pre-registered, a remarkable 102% attendee yield. Most importantly, 115 of these attendees (57%) were external, non-Ahmadi guests. To ensure a seamless experience, SMS and email reminders had been sent to all registrants leading up to the 6:30 PM start time. Upon arrival, audience members were directed to their seats, with a reserved area specifically allocated for Lajna members to ensure appropriate accommodations within the auditorium.
The event commenced formally with the recitation of the Holy Quran, specifically Chapter 59, verses 23–25, which were selected for their relevance to the theme of the event. Following the English translation, the President of AMSA UCalgary provided an introduction to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the association’s mission. He highlighted the community’s core values of peace, justice, and the motto “Love for All, Hatred for None,” setting a respectful and intellectual tone for the evening.
The moderated portion of the program then began, utilizing the custom-built digital interface to present prompts to the panelists and the audience. As the panelists explained their varying stances, the audience engaged dynamically through their mobile devices, submitting live questions and comments that were filtered by moderators to be addressed by the MC in real-time. This eliminated the delay of a traditional Q&A and kept the energy in the room high.
Although there were initial technical issues with the live microphones, the team quickly resolved them, and the remainder of the 90-minute session proceeded smoothly.
Following the moderated discussion and a formal Q&A, the Regional Qaid of Western Calgary offered closing remarks. He provided a more formal description of the Jamaat’s intentions and encouraged students to get involved with the newly established Humanity First Club at the University of Calgary via a QR code displayed on the screen. The event concluded on schedule at 8:30 PM, after which guests were invited to a dinner featuring 55 large boxes of pizza, along with water and drinks. To maintain health and safety standards, volunteers wore gloves during food service. A separate serving area was also allocated for Lajna.
In the final moments of the evening, guests had the opportunity to visit a book stall set up outside the venue, where they could receive free educational literature and books to continue their learning. MTA Calgary was also invited to record the event and interview a few attendees for a short documentary. By the Grace of God, the event was a resounding success, serving as a powerful platform for Tabligh and demonstrating the potential of modern, tech-driven engagement within the university community, Alhamdulillah.
Reported by: Sagir Saeed – President AMSA, University of Calgary
