By Samuel Ssenono
LONDON, United Kingdom – The worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has reported significant growth in its global outreach, humanitarian work and religious activities over the past year, with nearly 268,000 people joining the community and new mosques, schools and health facilities established across several continents.
The figures were announced on Saturday during the second day of Jalsa Salana UK 2026, the annual international convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, as its worldwide Head, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, delivered his traditional annual address reviewing the Jamaat’s progress over the past year.
Addressing thousands of delegates gathered at Hadeeqatul Mahdi in Hampshire and millions following proceedings worldwide through MTA International, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said the community had continued expanding despite challenges, establishing 398 new chapters across the world, excluding Pakistan, while the message of Ahmadiyyat reached 811 new localities for the first time. Benin recorded the highest number of newly established chapters, followed by Congo-Brazzaville and Liberia.
The Khalifa also announced that the community built 133 new mosques, acquired 39 existing mosques, bringing the total number of new mosques to 172, while 127 mission houses were established in 41 countries.
He highlighted the continued expansion of the Jamaat’s publishing and translation work, revealing that 353 books, pamphlets and other publications were produced in 37 languages during the year. The Holy Quran was published in Lithuanian for the first time, bringing the number of Quran translations produced by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to 79 languages.
The community also distributed more than 4.46 million copies of religious literature free of charge, reaching over 5.5 million people worldwide. Book exhibitions, fairs and literature stalls introduced the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat to millions more across different countries.
In Africa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad announced the establishment of a new printing press in Uganda, adding to seven existing presses operating across the continent. He noted that these facilities printed hundreds of thousands of books and millions of magazines and newspapers during the year.
The address also highlighted the expanding reach of the community’s media platforms. MTA International now broadcasts through eight global television channels and three regional channels, providing live translations in 28 languages after adding Albanian, Swedish, Portuguese and Italian during the year. More than 800 programmes were produced by MTA, while international studios contributed nearly 2,000 additional productions.
Across Africa, the Jamaat currently operates 26 radio stations, while television and radio broadcasts in 70 countries are estimated to have reached more than 230 million people over the past year.
On humanitarian work, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said the community’s charity organisation, Humanity First, served more than 2.5 million people in 26 countries and provided emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts, including 125,000 people in Gaza. Medical outreach programmes also delivered free eye care and cataract surgeries to thousands.
The community’s health and education initiatives also continued to expand across Africa, where 41 clinics and hospitals, together with hundreds of schools, are providing medical and educational services in several countries. More than 500,000 patients received treatment during the year.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further announced that 267,596 people from 132 countries, representing more than 670 ethnic groups and nationalities, accepted Ahmadiyyat during the year. He illustrated the community’s growth by sharing accounts of converts from countries including Chad, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger, describing how dreams, radio broadcasts and missionary work had influenced their decisions to embrace the faith.
Concluding his address, the Khalifa urged members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to remain steadfast in their faith, fulfil their responsibilities and continue serving humanity, before offering prayers for peace and guidance for the world
