GAMBIA: AHMADIYYA MUSLIM YOUTHS HOLD 26TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE

"Ahmadiyya Youth Association is actively engaging its members in the acquisition of skills. This is important for the socio-economic development of the country",  Permanent Secretary, Mambayick Njie

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Daily Observer (Banjul), AllAfrica.Com
By Staff Reporter

The Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya held its 26th annual national convention from Friday, 25th to Sunday, 27th December 2009 at Masroor Senior Secondary School, Old Yundum. Over 600 Ahmadi youths from all regions of The Gambia and Guinea Bissau attended the gathering.

Addressing the youths at the gathering, Maulana Baba F Trawally, Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in The Gambia, said that the youths of this generation find it very difficult to devote their time to the course of Allah the Almighty. "They are engrossed in so many activities that are of the least benefit to their moral and spiritual well-being. They are determined to waste hours on playing or watching games. Whenever the call is made in the course of Allah, they are not ready to spare the least time," he said. "The Ahmadi youths should always reflect on the pledge that every Khadim (youth) takes which states that he will be ready to sacrifice his life, wealth, time and honour for the sake of his religion, country and nation. Any activity that is destructive to that objective is therefore forbidden to you," the Amir emphasised.

In his opening speech, the Sadr (national president) of the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, Tahir Ahmad Touray, explained that the objective of the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (the Ahmadiyya Youth Association) is to make the youths heed their real objective in life; to make them shun heedlessness to Allah's commandments which leads to a chaotic society; to inculcate in them the love of Allah and Hadrat Khataman Nabiyyeen Muhammad Mustafa (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and the spirit of serving Islam, one's country, mankind, and strive for their welfare. "This is the responsibility of every youth. This is what we owe Allah and this is what we owe humanity," he noted.

Touray went on to say that every person has set for him/herself an objective in life. "In a bid for man to attain his objectives, he is determined to employ any means possible towards that because he believes that the end justifies the means," he remarked. However, he noted, the primary objective of every person should be the total devotion and submission to Allah Almighty. "Whenever man loses sight of that goal, he becomes heedless to the collective interests of the society and becomes a transgressor. Increasing rates of crime, corruption, and all forms of injustice are the consequences of man abandoning his real goal and adopting other goals," he said.

In his speech, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mambayick Njie expressed his impression in the moral discipline that is showcased by the Ahmadi youths. He said it was amazing to see young people reciting the Holy Quran so beautifully, with courage and confidence. This, he said is a clear indication of the priority and importance that the youths have attached to the moral training of their members. The Youth and Sports permanent secretary said the young people who are the assets of any nation must be engaged meaningfully so as to prevent them from being consumed by the ills of the contemporary society.

PS Njie said he was equally pleased to know that the Ahmadiyya Youth Association is actively engaging its members in the acquisition of skills. This, he noted is important for the socio-economic development of the country. Njie raised concern over the mode of dress of the younger generation and challenged parents, religious leaders and society as a whole to redouble their efforts in the moral disciplining of the young as they are the future leaders. PS Njie finally called on the youths to seek blessings from their parents by respecting and fulfiling their obligations to them.

Presenting on the topic:'Youth and the contemporary society', Sadr Touray said that the world has reached a very high scientific advancement and efforts are still being made to further propel it. "Through the Internet, people from different parts of the world, who could not have reached each other for six months can communicate and even see each other in seconds. These developments are not without negative results. The more advanced the world becomes, the more estranged from God it has become and thus more entangled in the Satanic chain. It is an undeniable fact that it is the youths who are the main beneficiaries of the technological development and so are they the most negatively affected. They are given to the pursuit of pleasure and the myriad of games and the opening of all the doors of vices have diverted the attention of the contemporary youth from the ultimate objective-the reality of life-Allah the Almighty," Touray maintained, adding that the contemporary youth is heedless of God; he is impatient and wants to attain everything overnight.

Delving into the topic:'The role of youths in nation building', Fabakary Kalley observed that in countries where the youth are more agile and committed towards the acquisition of knowledge from all domains, such countries shall prosper. Islam has admonished all to seek knowledge, the significance of which is to be able to know Allah and how to worship Him. Other speakers at the annual national event included the missionary-in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at the Gambia, Ustaz Syed Saeed-ul Hassan Shah, who spoke at length on the topic: 'The youth as a role models'. The youth gathering was also marked by academic and sporting competitions.

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