Ariel shot of the Ijtema Gah in the making | MKA UK
Ijaz Ahmad Tahir
Nazim-e-Ala Ijtema, MKA UK
The National Ijtema of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK will be held in Hampshire on 21,22 and 23 September. Preparations are underway as a tent city is in the making to host the thousands of youth travelling from across the country for the grand event.
Islam teaches us that the objective of such gatherings should be the remembrance of Allah and various other means to attain nearness to Him. In light of this every year Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK organises National Ijtema for Atfal and Khuddam, so members can take inspiration from their own brothers, learn and progress both physically and spiritually. Moreover, in UK we are truly blessed and honoured to benefit from the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa and listen to Huzoor’saa advice and guidance on various matters. This experience alone is something that is beyond comprehension and we cannot thank Allah the Almighty enough for this great blessing.
This year one of the mandates we had was to find a site large enough to hold Khuddam/Atfal Ijtema followed by Ansar and Lajna Ijtema. Within commutable distance of London, good access from the main roads and sufficient parking facilities.
By the grace of Allah and Huzoor’saa prayers we managed to obtain a much bigger site, with good access, secluded with level fields and ample parking. However, there was one problem, this was a farm land and required a lot of preparation to make it suitable for IJtema. Within a few months of securing the site, this farmland, which required an immense amount of work, has been turned into green grassy fields.
By the grace and blessings of Allah the Almighty, until this evening most of the marquees have been erected, metal tracking is being laid out, the infrastructure required to support the Ijtemas is slowly coming into place. There are of course many challenges and these are expected, especially when the site is new. However, we are always amazed how Allah the Almighty and prayers of our beloved Huzooraa removes those problems.
During the very first Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Ijtema, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, al-Musleh al-Maudra, said:
“The success of a nation is dependant on its youth. If the youth of a nation become true custodians of its traditions then that nation can survive for centuries. However, if the generations of the future are negligent then a nation can never achieve success, and even the progress it makes can be transformed into failure”
The Ijtema Committee and Majlis-e-Amla MKA are trying their utmost to organise an Ijtema which is a true reflection of the guidance given by the Promised Messiahas, so when a khadim/tifl leaves at the end of Ijtema, they feel that this was truly a spiritually uplifting experience, feel more knowledgeable about Islam and Ahmadiyyat and feel that their bond with Khilafat and Allah the Almighty is stronger than ever before. May Allah the Almighty enable us to achieve this objective.
