by - Mubaahil Ahmad (Dallas)

The MKA National Ijtema is held annually where all Kuddam and Atfal in the USA. meet together in one area to compete in numerous types of competitions.  At this Ijtema, we all gather together for the sake of our jamaat and to meet other Ahmadis in the nation.  The reasons that I like coming to the National Ijtema could make an endless list, but the main reasons are brotherhood, competition, making new friends, religious experience and, of course, to have fun.  These Ijtemas aren’t really all about who is better; it is about gaining knowledge and enjoying time with one another.

            Brotherhood is the core of all of the reasons.  It is why everyone comes to the Ijtema, to meet each other, to be with each other, and make friends.  The Ijtema is a place you can meet relatives from somewhere else in the country.  When we all Ahmadis meet, we all are in unity with each other.

            Another reason I like coming is because of the competition.  The competition in the local Jamat, for some people, might seem fairly easy, but when I go to the regional ijtema they have to work harder to get more prizes.  But in the National Ijtema is where all your yearly work pays off.  Here, you can see how you rank in such a big area.  Here, you see if the past two Ijtemas paid off.  And if you don’t win, this motivates you to try to do better next year, and with this motivation you gain more religious knowledge that you might need to know in the future.

            Besides religious competitions such as the Recitation of the Holy Qur’an, Nazm, Speech, and all other competitions, sports is also one of the parts of the Ijtema.  Most middle aged Khuddam, who have played Cricket since childhood, can see how they are in the world.  They see if their little cricket games in their yard really helped.  Also, for us Atfal, we grow around a world full of the game of basketball, relays, and sometimes even soccer.  So, at the Ijtema, you can test all of these skills.  You can also learn how to play the sports at the Ijtema.  I participated in soccer last year even though I didn’t like soccer.  I learned how to play it now even though I still don’t like it that much.  The important thing though is that I had fun and we all enjoyed it and learned a new skill.

            Besides competitions another reason I like to come is to make new friends.  Last year at the Ijtema, I met a lot of new people.  I met people of different cultures, people who are friendly, and even some relatives I didn’t even know to be my relatives.

            Sometimes, these Ijtemas teach us different things and we can learn from other people.  When most people hear the word Ijtema they think about competitions, and a lot of the people think about only the sports.  Most of the people don’t take it very seriously.  But those people need to understand that this event happens only once a year, and here memories can be cherished and new friends can be made.

            I look forward to this year’s Ijtema because I know that I will have the experience of a life time.  I’ll get to meet some relatives I haven’t seen in a year or so and just have fun and come out a better person.  This being my second national Ijtema, I know what to expect and know that this year will be better, Insha-Allah But this year will be different because it is in a new location and a more people are coming from my Jama

at as well as all of America.  The goal of having and attendance of at least 1,000 people will motivate more people to come.  The National Ijtema is something I want to come to for as long as can because I know the experience will be great, Insha-Allah.