Voice of British Muslim Women

Maleeha Mansur, Hayes 

“Allah has made you brethren one to another, so be not divided. An Arab has no preference over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor is a white one to be preferred to a dark one, nor a dark one to a white one.” (The Holy Prophet – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)ⁱ 
 
 
This is certainly the epitome of inclusivity and indeed the standard of equality established by Islam. As a young Nasira, (member of the girls’ auxiliary) I recall our UK National Ijtema being held in a secondary school in Southfields. By the Grace of Allah, today, National Ijtema is hosted in a tent village in the beautiful Hampshire countryside in order to host the over 6000 expected attendees; a testimony to the growth of Lajna, Nasirat and indeed the community as a whole. 
 
With such growth comes increased diversity. National Ijtema brings together our sisters from all over the country, all walks of life and many an ethnicity. We see how Ijtema has grown to develop and cater for the diverse needs of our organisation. Competitions of reciting portions of the Holy Qur’an and poetry, as well as speech competitions have always been the mainstay of Ijtema and indeed a crucial aspect in developing the confidence, knowledge and abilities of members. We have, however, seen the evolution of these with the inclusion of PowerPoint presentations delivered on various topics to stimulate the interest of the audience as well as quiz competitions. Indeed, this year with the theme of “100 years of Lajna Ima’illah”, once again we look forward to fascinating talks on various aspects of this magnificent century. Indeed, as highlighted by His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; “From an administrative perspective, this Ijtema has been organised and run by women from start to end, and they will have made a programme that is attuned to the needs and preferences of our ladies and girls. Hence, this Ijtema is a collective and practical demonstration of the great status bestowed upon women by Islam.”ⁱⁱ  

Aside from competitions, Ijtema seeks to stimulate and cater for the interests of all attendees, showcasing the great knowledge and experience of our members with various exhibitions and lectures held by both the student body AMWSA (Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens’ Student Association) and AMRA (Ahmadiyya Muslim Research Association). Whether they be virtual experiences in immersive planetariums, scientific experiments making smoothies from bicycle runs or classes in the art of growing vegetables, these all provide an opportunity for Lajna and Nasirat to come together hand in hand and grow as sisters. 

Leading us on this path of inclusivity we have before us a beautiful role model in His Holiness (may Allah be His helper). Recognising the diversity and needs of Lajna and Nasirat, whilst gracing our National Ijtema, Beloved Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) for many years now, graciously delivers the concluding address in English rather than Urdu, making it clear to us how important it is to recognise the needs of the time and how to take great steps in moving forward for the sake of our faith.