Voice of British Muslim Women

Summer is giving way to autumn, cooler days bringing respite from months of hot sun, and a new school term has begun. Before winter comes around we pause for a weekend where white marquees await the sounds of Tilawat and Nazm, speeches and presentations, chatter and laughter as friends are reunited to learn and to compete. Colourful scarves mark the different regional groups of white clad Nasirat, fragrant aromas float from the dining area, and thousands of women and children fill the rows of seats awaiting them.

It’s ijtema time of year again and to mark its arrival this year, Lajna and Nasirat share their thoughts and memories about the Nasirat and Lajna UK National Ijtema.

Esha Mirza

The National Lajna Ijtema always has a warm atmosphere steeped in sisterhood. For me, this environment has always given me an opportunity to better myself, learn more about my faith and connect with women who have gathered in one place, together, in the name of faith.

Munavara Ghauri

The Arabic root word of ‘Ijtema’ means ‘gathering’ or ‘bringing together’ and Mash’Allah we have been doing this most successfully at the UK Lajna National Ijtemas over the past few years. It has meant that the Ijtema has now morphed into an extensive outdoor event. With the grace of Allah, Lajna UK has outgrown Baitul Futuh, the largest mosque in western Europe, in accommodating special, spiritual gatherings like this on a national level.

As a child, I occasionally attended the National Ijtema as the distance from my home in the Northeast of England was significant and when my mother attended, she prioritised bringing the new converts of our Jamaat. However, its importance was not lost upon me and as an adult it has been a mandatory event in my calendar, only eclipsed by the International Jalsa Salana.

I have performed a variety of duties at the National Ijtema over the years, from cleaning toilets frantically and in a sweat, to judging competitions in a more serene setting! All duties have their challenges, and I am sure the level of sacrifice we make in such cases correlates with the level of blessings we attain.

Perhaps the highlights for me have been when my 2 daughters achieved first prizes in English speech competitions at the Ijtema, Alhamdolillah, because they were the fruits of many years hard work, coaxing, practising and prayers! I hope their successes served to teach them the power of prayer and strengthened their connection with Allah Almighty. Indeed, if the Ijtema does that for all its attendees in 2026, it will have proved a great success, Insh’Allah.

Inaya Ahmad, (age 9)

Last Ijtema, I had so much fun because I made friends and had lots of activities. There was arts and crafts, and there was also a science fair with lots of kids in it. Then there was this lady who was teaching us science facts. We went in a room full of bubbles, and a girl was spraying bubbles everywhere, which was really fun. We also learned about space facts because we went in a big, circular dome, and in that it was black and there were stars, and two people teaching us about space. It was really big and fun, and we learned a lot.

Another exciting thing was to hold snakes. It was a really big yellow snake named Royal python. At first I felt really scared that I was holding a snake but then after a while, I felt more into it because it was really relaxed, and it was really cool and had smooth skin! I had a picture taken with it too!

Alhamdulillah I’m blessed to be an Ahmadi who has Jalsa and Ijtema every year, where I do water duties and litter picking and make many friends.

Saira Iffat Bhatti

One of my earliest Ijtema memories takes me back to when I was a little Nasirah, attending Nasirat Islamabad Camp, back when it was still held. To me, it was magical. I remember the excitement of being there, surrounded by other girls, and the sense that I was part of something very special. I was later asked to present my experience of the camp at Ijtema. At the time, I simply remember feeling incredibly excited and humbled that I had been given the opportunity to stand on that stage!

I could never have imagined that years later, I would return to that same stage to fulfil a dream I had carried for much longer than I realised…

My most memorable Ijtema moment came when I received my academic award. The journey to that moment was not quite as straightforward as I had hoped. At GCSE, I missed the A* required for the award by just one mark. I tried again at A-level, but it still did not happen. I tried once more during my BSc, achieving a First Class with Honours but alas it was not from a top 10 university. But I still had one final opportunity left: my MSc.

By then, I remember thinking, this is my last shot.

So when I finally achieved it at UCL, the feeling was difficult to put into words. And then came the moment I had imagined so many times: walking onto the Ijtema stage to receive my academic award bearing the signature of Beloved Huzoor, may Allah be his Helper.

It was almost surreal. I thought about the little girl who had once stood on that stage, excitedly telling everyone about her experience at Islamabad Camp. She had no idea that, years later, she would be standing there again, having finally achieved something she had tried for over and over again.

Looking back, perhaps that is why Ijtema feels so special to me. Some of its moments belong to a particular day, but others seem to follow you through the years. A little memory from childhood can become part of a much bigger story.

And sometimes, after years of trying, you find yourself standing on the stage you once thought was simply magical and realise that the dream you had carried for so long has finally come true.

Zona Tahir

Attending the Ijtema is always such a special blessing. Last year brought a mix of nervousness and excitement as I competed in Tilawat. Listening to all those beautiful voices was an unforgettable experience, and I learned so much.

Serving on accommodation duty each year is another true blessing, as it gives us the chance to warmly welcome the guests of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him). Doing my first night duty made it even more exciting. There is something profoundly magical about the quiet hours at the Ijtema Gah: watching the stars twinkle brightly at night and witnessing the breathtaking sunrise over the stage. It’s a view so stunning I wish everyone could experience it. I feel that getting a duty isn’t just a task; it’s a spiritual privilege that fills my heart with gratitude.

May Allah bless us for our efforts abundantly, Ameen.

Years of Ijtema have left a multitude of memories and feelings in the hearts of Lajna members and this year’s Ijtema is set to do the same.