227 Muslim Youth Leaders Descend on Chino Mosque for Annual Training Course

Press Release
(download official here)

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) Men's Youth Association (MKA), USA successfully completed their 14th Annual Leadership Conference, which began on Friday with an informal barbecue at Laguna beach. Of the over 200 participants, a large majority were on the west coast for the first time. Many were amazed at the scenic views and were thrilled at the chance to enjoy a spectacular southern California sunset.

The formal event began early Saturday Morning with a Welcome from the local President of the LA-Inland Empire Chapter of AMC, Mr. Ansari who welcomed the young leaders. President of MKA USA, Dr. Younus also addressed the group and informed participant about the objectives and goals of the conference. 'I cannot overemphasize the need for all youth leaders present to remember that all that they do is for the sake of God, for the sake of winning His pleasure. I urge the senior members to be the ones to take the lead in resolving issues and to learn the art of communicating effectively,' he said.

In his address to the youth leadership Imam Shamshad said, 'Remember that the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the one who had banned the false notion of violent Jihad and correctly defined Jihad to be the striving for self reformation and service to humanity. I remind everyone again of the need to remain strongly attached to Khilafat, the divinely established spiritual leadership that makes it possible for us to remain united and spread our message of love for all, hatred for none throughout the world.’

Imam Shamshad, Missionary at the Chino Mosque also welcomed the participants and said that he was delighted that they are having an event of this magnitude at the Baitul Hameed mosque.

The session was then divided up into smaller groups and key leadership issues were discussed including finances, reporting, and how to motivate the youth within the organization, etc...

In the afternoon the National Executive Board of the Youth association put on a 'Resource Fair' which gave participants an opportunity to ask questions of their national counterparts and seek guidance from them, as to how to make there local chapters more active in specific areas including: how to hold successful education classes, organize blood drives, and how to successfully provide good spiritual education to the children of the community, etc.. The evening concluded with a meeting of the National executive board.

After the evening prayers, in a presentation designed to urge the youth to continue to strive for excellence in service to humanity, the head of the Volunteer Services department, Mr. Harris Zafar said, 'This year the Ahmadiyya youth donated 1,136 bags of blood in numerous blood drives held all over the US.  This was a marked improvement over the 714 bags that were donated last year. Each bag of blood can save 3 lives, thus contributing to possible saving of over 3400 live in the United States. Our goal in the current year is to collect 2,000 bags of blood.'

Sunday Morning the conference resumed and participants were inspired by two very respected early African American members of the community who touched the audience with their story of how they came into the fold of Ahmadiyyat and they offered the youth some valuable words of wisdom and encouragement.

Dr. Faheem Younus then presented the members of the local youth with awards recognizing their hard work and achievements.  Dr. Hamidur Rahman, National Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also addressed the audience saying tat he was so happy to see an event of this size taking place in Chino and asked that the organizers may consider making this their permanent venue.

The proceedings ended with a silent prayer led by imam Shamshad.

For more info on this event please visit www.mkausa.org and look for 'QRC'.






=======================================================

Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (MKA) is the youth auxiliary of the greater Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In the United States, MKA USA is registered as a 501(c)(3) subsidiary of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, USA Inc.

The name "Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya" is derived from its roots in Arabic. Translated into English, its literal meaning is "Group of the Servants of Ahmadiyya." Ahmadiyya (or Ahmadis) is the name given to those who are a part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect in Islam.

Members of the Ahmadiyya Community are Muslims that believe in the Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, India. In 1889, the Promised Messiah (as), established this organization with a notion that "members of this community would show something distinctive in their day-to-day behaviors."

As the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community grew, so too did the demands of the organization. Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad(ra), Khalifatul Masih II (the second caliph or successor to the Promised Messiah) created several organizations from time-to-time to fulfill these growing needs. On February 4th, 1938, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya was established under his direction; a culmination the great characteristics found in previously established organizations of the community.

About AMC:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) is a dynamic, reformist and fast growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, AMC spans over 193 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. AMC USA, established in 1921, is the first American-Muslim organization.

AMC is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas (1835-1908) of Qadian. Ahmadas claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesusas of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammadsa. AMC believes that God sent Ahmadas, like Jesusas, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace.  Ahmadas’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation.  He divested Islam of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings.

About Imam Shamshad:

Imam Shamshad Nasir has dedicated his life to the cause of serving Islam.  He is well known for his scholarly knowledge of Islam and has worked in many parts of the US with civic, state and national leaders to promote the cause of peace through increasing awareness and knowledge of each other.  He has worked for the last thirty-six years in Pakistan, Ghana, Sierra Leone and the US.  Imam Shamshad was posted to the west coast of the US after serving in Silver Spring, MD, Houston, and Dayton.  He is currently serving as Southwest Regional Missionary with his main office at the Bait-ul-Hameed Mosque in Chino, California.

For more information, please contact Imam Shamshad at 909-627-2252 or call 1-800-WHY ISLAM.  Also, more information is available at www.alislam.org and about the mosque in Chino at www.thechinomosque.org

Media note: The name Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, is followed by the symbol “sa,” an abbreviation for the traditional salutation “may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.” The names of other prophets and messengers are followed by the symbol “as,” an abbreviation for the traditional salutation “on whom be peace.”