Bishwa Ijtema

23°53′29″N 90°23′49″E / 23.8914722°N 90.3968637°E / 23.8914722; 90.3968637 The Bishwa Ijtema (Bengali: বিশ্ব ইজতেমা, lit. 'Global congregation') is an annual gathering of Muslims in Tongi, by the banks of the River Turag, in the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Ijtema, organized by the Bangladeshi branch of the Tablighi Jamaat, is considered a demonstration of Muslim unity, solidarity, and mutual love and respect and an opportunity to reiterate their commitment to Islamic values. It is the biggest festival by population in Bengali culture, one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world, and the second-largest Muslim gathering, with 5 million adherents, after the Arba'in pilgrimage's 15–20 million attendees in Iraq, both surpassing the 2–3 million worshipers who participate in the Hajj, considered to be one of the five pillars of Islam, in Saudi Arabia. Bishwa Ijtema is a modern event in which Muslim participation is voluntary.

The Ijtema is a three-day congregation during which devotees perform daily prayers and listen to scholars reciting and interpreting verses from the Quran, the central religious text. Speakers include Islamic scholars from various countries. It culminates in the Akheri Munajat (concluding supplication or final prayer), in which millions of devotees raise their hands and pray to God (Allah) for world peace. Al-Quds Al-Arabi compared Ijtema with Kaaba to the poor people of the region.

The Ijtema is non-political, and draws people of all persuasions. It is attended by devotees from 150 countries. The majority of its devotees come from across Bangladesh, the world's third-largest Muslim majority country. Despite being larger than Hajj, the obligatory Muslim pilgrimage, the voluntary Bishwa Ijtema remains largely unknown and underreported in the West. During the Ijtema, free meals and accommodation are provided by volunteers.