Thousands of Ahmadi Muslims gathered in the streets around Vaughan’s Baitul Islam Mosque Monday evening to offer a warm welcome to their spiritual leader

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, arrived in the area known as Peace Village, near Jane Street and Teston Road area, to shouts of “Allahu Akbar” — God is great — from about 10,000 followers from across the GTA.

The Caliph, who lives in London, England, is here for a six-week tour, in part to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at in Canada.

"It means the opportunity of a lifetime," said Irfan Ahmed, of Newmarket, who was among the faithful hoping to catch sight of the Caliph as he arrived in a motorcade.

Ahmed said he has seen the Caliph once before, but "just a glimpse."

Peace Village was decorated festively for the visit. Houses were draped in strings of light and children, dressed in red and white, waved Canadian flags while singing songs to welcome the Caliph.

Estimates of the numbers of Ahmadis around the world range from 10 to 20 million. They are persecuted in parts of the world, including some Muslim countries where they’re regarded as heretics.

“In certain countries such as Pakistan and a lot of Muslim countries we face persecution,” said Hena Malik, who was part of the crowd welcoming the Caliph. “In a country like Canada this is where we believe Islamic rights are followed.”

During his visit the Caliph is expected to attend a number of events including Jalsa Salana Canada, billed as the largest and longest-running Muslim convention in the country, which takes place at the International Centre in Mississauga this coming weekend.

More than 25,000 people from a dozen countries are expected to attend the three-day event.