Voice of British Muslim Women

Munazzah Chou, Farnham

Ijtema in the ‘90s as a young nasirat (member of the girls’ auxiliary) was all about the academic competitions; recitation and memorisation of the Holy Quran, memorised speeches – and nazm (poem) for those who could hold a tune – sadly not me! Preparation for ijtema competitions start months in advance, working towards the local ijtema which qualifies the winners to compete in the Regional Ijtema competitions to then progress to the nationals. The National ijtema competitions are the culmination of hours of research, writing and practise for each individual competitor. The man-hours involved must be phenomenal.

Healthy competition is encouraged in Islam as a way to motivate each other to improve; as Allah instructs believers in the Holy Quran, ‘Vie with one another in good deeds’ (2:149)

Progress is often borne of competition because competition fosters a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement. Knowing that others are striving for the same goals pushes individuals to develop their skills, acquire new knowledge, and adapt to changing circumstances. Competition motivates us to set and strive for goals. It encourages hard work, practise, and a growth mindset. Facing challenges in a competitive environment teaches children how to cope with failure, learn from mistakes, and bounce back, which builds resilience, which in today’s children is an increasingly important topic as they navigate a world filled with unique challenges and pressures.

Ijtema offers an opportunity for children to experience success through effort and perseverance, or emotional regulation if they don’t secure a prize. Ijtema allows children to develop relationships which provide children with friendship and a sense of belonging which are essential for resilience.

Healthy competition means teaching children how to handle winning without gloating or boasting and also being gracious in defeat while never giving up and trying harder next time.

As Rudyard Kipling states in his poem ‘If’

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

….Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

New knowledge is acquired when writing the speeches, pondering over topics and then memorising text, a skill which children these days seem to have less experience of at school. The ijtema is an excellent and hard-to-come-by opportunity for young people to develop their confidence to stand up in front of a significant audience to deliver their prepared piece. For everyone, whether competing or not, the simple act of being among a large number of people is an opportunity for tarbiyyat (moral training). Children and adults alike can practise patience, obedience, kindness, consideration when queueing, entering the site, finding a seat, and interactions with fellow ijtema attendees.

The highlight of Ijtema is, of course, the opportunity to be in the presence of His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) and learn from his direct guidance on matters of the day particularly relevant for Lajna and Nasirat.

The exhibitions and scholarly talks at Ijtema are another highlight where Lajna share their deep knowledge of a specific faith-inspiring topic.

The ijtema is a boost of energy for our spiritual journey. The benefits of taking part and attending Ijtema are manifold, an arena where competition and acquisition of religious knowledge progress in tandem. Where we gather for the sake of God, to increase our knowledge. And, as we’re told in hadith (traditions of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him) when people gather together in remembrance of God, they are surrounded by angels and are covered by mercy from their Lord.

References

https://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2017-10-27.html

https://www.alislam.org/articles/remembrance-allah-true-gratitude-of-his-bounties/